Man Loads Garbage Cans At Willowbrook Store, Steals Merchandise: Police

OAK BROOK, IL – A man got two garbage cans in the Target store in Willowbrook and filled them with merchandise Wednesday, authorities said.

The suspect, 39-year-old Michael Addison of DeKalb, was apprehended in Oak Brook, police said.

About 8 p.m., Crest Hill police were told that a man, later identified as Addison, stole a 2023 Ford Maverick pickup truck at a gas station, according to a news release from DuPage County prosecutors. Officers tracked Addison to Target.

Addison ran out of the store with two garbage cans, put them in the truck, and drove away, striking a parked car on the way out, police said.

Officers chasing Addison placed tire-deflating spikes at Route 83 and Interstate 88, with Addison riding over them.

He then drove on south Interstate 294, crashing at the York Road exit, police said. He ran away, but officers caught him shortly after.

Police said they found more than $2,500 worth of merchandise in the garbage cans, including pharmaceuticals and personal care items.

They also said they discovered two guns on the floorboard – a loaded Canik 9mm and an unloaded .38mm Smith & Wesson.

Addison faces felony charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon (two counts), burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle and retail theft. Police said he did not have a firearm owner's identification card.

A DuPage County judge granted prosecutors' request to keep Addison in jail until his trial.

At the time of his arrest, Addison had an outstanding DuPage County arrest warrant for unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle, police said.

He was also on electronic monitoring in McHenry County for a pending burglary and retail theft case, prosecutors said.