Employee Steals Car From Business, Causes $10K In Damage: Cops

FRANKFORT, IL — A Lemont man has been charged after he stole a car from a detailing business' property, Frankfort police said. Paulius Sventickas, 29, was charged with possession of stolen vehicle, criminal damage to property, aggravated fleeing, speeding and improper turn signal.

Police said they were on an unrelated traffic stop Sunday when they saw a silver Mercedes-Benz speeding on northbound La Grange Road near Bankview Drive. An officer attempted to stop the car, but it fled.

Police said the officer ran the license plate and found that the vehicle belonged to a Frankfort resident. The officer went to the Frankfort home, where the owner confirmed the vehicle belonged to them, but said the car was currently being worked on at Platinum Detailing in Frankfort.

According to police, officers then reached out to the detailing shop, and the business owner confirmed Sventickas has been working on the vehicle. The business owner remotely viewed video cameras from the shop and confirmed Sventickas had entered the vehicle and left the property. The business owner told police Sventickas was not authorized to take the vehicle off the property.

Police said while the officer was at Platinum Detailing, he saw the missing car return and Sventickas exit the driver’s side. Sventickas was then taken into custody.

The officer noticed dents and scratches on the car, including damage to all four tires and rims, police said. Damage to the car was estimated at $10,000.

Sventickas was processed at the Frankfort Police Department and then taken to the Will County Adult Detention Facility. As of Oct. 29, he has not been released. Bail is set at $1,500.