61-Year-Old Man Faces Felony Charges Connected To Organized Pickpocketing Schemes

EVANSTON, IL — A 61-year-old man is facing felony charges in connection with a months-long organized pickpocketing scheme.

According to the Evanston Police Department, investigators identified a recurring pattern of thefts over the past seven months. In each incident, usually at a grocery store, a victim's wallet was stolen and their credit cards were used to purchase gift cards or make cash withdrawals at nearby retailers.

Using offender descriptions, vehicle usage and transaction behavior, Evanston authorities identified 61-year-old Chicago resident Jerome Quick as the primary suspect. Police said Quick primarily targeted elderly individuals while they were grocery shopping.

The incidents took place at several Evanston grocery stores as well as in nearby jurisdictions. Due to the organized nature of the crimes, police issued a warning in early January.

Evanston authorities arrested Quick on Feb. 5. The Cook County State's Attorney's Office reviewed the investigation and approved seven felony counts of aggravated identity theft and one felony count of theft from a person.