Appliance Shopper Charged With Identity Theft

A man was charged with identify theft after he tried to purchase several big ticket items at an Evergreen Park store using a fraudulent credit card, prosecutors said in court Wednesday.

According to the charges, Christopher Kraft, 49, was approved for a store credit card using another person’s identity at the Menards store at 9100 S. Western Ave., Evergreen Park.

Around 5:13 p.m. October 13, Kraft attempted to use the card to buy a dryer, washer, refrigerator and two stoves, prosecutors said.

The purchase did not go through after it was learned Kraft had allegedly stolen the identity of the person whose name was on the card.

Prosecutors said that Kraft and person whose name was used did not know each other.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Kraft was a U.S. Army veteran and had just lost his job in May.

Prosecutors said that prior to Tuesday, Kraft had no criminal background.

Bail was set at $10,000. He’s due back in court in Bridgeview on November 9.