Man Steals Woman's Wallet While She's Distracted by Tomatoes: Prosecutor

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- A North Side Chicago man was charged after he pickpocketed an elderly woman’s purse in an Evergreen Park supermarket while his partner diverted her attention to the tomatoes, prosecutors said in court.

Everette Cooksey, 53, appeared before Cook County Judge Donald Havis on a charge of aggravated identity theft. The prosecutor also noted that Cooksey has eight prior felonies under his belt.

According to the charges, Cooksey and another man entered Pete’s Market during afternoon of April 20 in Evergreen Park. Surveillance video showed Cooksey approaching the elderly woman’s grocery cart and removing her wallet, while his partner distracted her by pointing to the tomatoes. Within moments, the prosecutor said the woman’s credit card was used at the Target store in Oak Lawn.

An employee of Pete’s Market told officers he saw the two men getting into a gold Lexus and leaving the parking lot. Evergreen Park police stopped the Lexus but let it go. Police issued a critical reach bulletin. On May 30, the prosecutor said, the Evergreen Park Police Department learned that AmTrak Police were holding Cooksey.

Bail was set at $100,000. Cooksey is currently being held on a no-bail warrant for violating bail bond another pending case. He was ordered not to have any contact with Pete’s Market while the case is pending. Cooksey is due back in court June 19 in Bridgeview.