11 Christmas Package Thefts Tied To Joliet Couple: Police

JOLIET, IL - The Joliet Police Department announced Friday that it has cracked a front porch package theft ring that was occurring over the past two months around Joliet and happening as far away as New Lenox and Gurnee. On Thursday, Joliet Police took Stephanie Clark, 19, and her boyfriend Tyshaun Collins, 21, into custody at the Will County Jail on felony charges of theft. The pair live together at an apartment in the 400 block of Joliet's West Jefferson Street, police said.

Deputy Chief of Police Edgar Gregory said that Joliet Police can tie Clark and Collins to at least 11 separate package thefts from porches. However, Gregory believes the couple may have been responsible for a substantially higher number than that. Gregory said his department has also learned that some people who are victims of package thefts simply don't bother to notify the police.

"We have got them tied to Gurnee and New Lenox," Gregory told Joliet Patch on Friday morning. "This case is still ongoing because we have so many other victims."

Gregory also added that "Some of these were big ticket items. There was a 55-inch TV, several iPhones, electronics, clothing, cell phones."

On Friday, jail logs listed Collins and Clark as each facing two felony theft charges and 20 separate misdemeanor counts of theft or criminal trespass to land.

Stephanie Clark

Gregory said that Joliet Police had Clark and Collins under surveillance over the past few days. He said Joliet Police have video evidence of them stealing packages and that police executed a search warrant of their apartment on Jefferson Street.

He said that Collins and Clark used a 2009 red-colored Chevy Impala to commit their package thefts. That car has been impounded by the Joliet Police Department, Gregory said.

Tyshaun Collins

"We also went to their apartment where we located proceeds from these porch thefts," Gregory said.

Gregory said the West Jefferson Street couple were busted by Joliet's undercover officers who are assigned to roam the city in search of people who may be tempted to steal delivery packages off front porches.

"These officers caught them," Gregory said.

Here are several of the locations around Joliet where Clark and Collins stole packages that were possibly intended to be Christmas gifts, according to Gregory.

• 1600 block of Douglas

• 1300 block of Frederick
• 800 block of Oneida
• 900 block of Oneida
• 600 block of Western
• 1100 block of Clement
• 500 block of Cowles

Gregory said that Joliet police believe Clark and Collins were taking the stolen packages from porches and then putting the merchandise on sale on Facebook and eBay. While many of the thefts occurred in Joliet's Cathedral area, Gregory said, it's evident that Clark and Collins were also targeting towns outside of Joliet.

He also stressed that people should make sure they can be around - or have someone else they can trust - be able to pick up a package when it gets delivered around the Christmas holidays.

"Even if it's a trusted neighbor, make sure someone is there because this is not only crew that is out there," Gregory said, referring to Clark and Collins.

Gregory said that Joliet's police investigation unit deserves the credit for the arrests of Clark and Collins.

"The package theft detail team is throughout the city," he said. "They're in plain clothes and plain cars. I won't say how many they are or give the locations."

Main image via Joliet Patch, Mugshots via Will County Sheriff's Department