3 Nabbed In Elmhurst Restaurant Pickpocketing: Cops

ELMHURST, IL – Two men and a woman from Chicago were arrested last week on burglary and theft charges in connection with pickpocketing at an Elmhurst restaurant, police said.

The incident was about 3 p.m. Thursday at Panera Bread, 108 E. North Ave., police said.

According to a police news release Monday, officers saw the suspects' vehicle, which was connected to a previous pickpocketing. They began surveillance.

One of the men acted as if his arm became stuck in the front door of Panera as an elderly woman approached the doorway to leave, police said. While the victim was distracted, another man stepped behind her to steal her wallet from her purse, according to the release. The men got into a van driven by the third suspect.

The suspects went to a big-box store on North Avenue, where they bought $17,000 worth of gift cards using the self-checkout lane, police said. Detectives arrested the suspects as they left.

The suspects were identified as Tyrell L. Frazier, 59; Sherman Gibbs, 62; and Nedra Bost, 49.

Gibbs was also arrested on a Cook County warrant and a charge of obstructing identification. Police said Gibbs gave a false name.

The three were taken to the DuPage County Jail.