Alleged Rib Thief Goes Back for Surf and Turf: Prosecutor

Vernard Crockett, 59 | Cook County Sheriff

Evergreen Park, IL -- A man out on bail for on retail theft charge for stealing ribs was back at another Evergreen Park store for surf and turf, prosecutors said.

Loss prevention agents at Walmart, 2500 W. 95th St., Evergreen Park, spotted Vernard Crockett around 1:14 p.m. July 13, stuffing packages of shrimp and steaks under his shirt, prosecutors said.

Crockett, 59, was taken into custody outside the store. The food was valued at $74.

In March, Crockett was arrested after he allegedly stole eight slabs of ribs from the Meijer store in Evergreen Park.

Crockett was sentenced to a year in the Illinois Department of Corrections of he was convicted of felony retail theft last year. He has two other felony convictions and five misdemeanor convictions, all for retail theft, the prosecutor said.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Crockett is an Army veteran. His pending case is currently being heard in veterans court. Crockett is being held on no bail for violating bond, with a hearing scheduled for July 20.

The judge set bail on the new case at $150,000. Crockett’s next court date is set for Aug. 2 in Bridgeview.