Crime & Safety
Man Caught Stealing Blackhawks, Bulls & Cubs Apparel From Orland Store Just Had 'Playoff Spirit': Cops
The man's alleged alibi in no way explained why he was stealing Cubs stuff.
A Waukegan man caught stealing Blackhawks, Bulls and Cubs apparel from the J.C. Penney in the Orland Mall explained to the cops that he was merely "in the playoff spirit," police said.
Despite his devotion for the hometown teams, 30-year-old Matthew Valle of 815 Wadsworth St. was still arrested on a charge or retail theft. Valle was also hit with a charge of possession of cannabis for hiding 0.8 grams of pot in a plastic bag "underneath his undergarments," police said.
A J.C. Penney security guard detained Valle and his girlfriend after spotting him stuffing clothing into a bag and leaving the store without paying, police said. Valle allegedly stole a Bulls cap, a Bulls T-shirt, three Blackhawks shirts and a Cubs shirt.
The total haul was worth $152, police said, but Valle had an excuse.
"Upon initially speaking with Matthew, he stated he was in the 'playoff spirit' which was the reason for stealing the sports attire," police said.
Valle also reportedly told officers his girlfriend wasn't in on the caper. He claimed "she had nothing to do with the commission of his crime," police said, "and she was not aware that he was placing unpurchased articles of clothing in his bag."
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