Carson's At Louis Mall Busts Shoplifter Trying To Steal $500 In Merchandise: Police

JOLIET, IL - Warning to would-be-shoplifters who are thinking of targeting the Louis Joliet Mall for your next big heist: the Carson's retail store has been on a roll as of late, busting multiple people for high-volume retail thefts. On Friday, the store's loss prevention team caught a woman from Hammond, Indiana who tried to stuff several hundred dollars worth of merchandise into some empty shopping bags she sneaked into the store, according to police. On Monday, Carson's security team nabbed Elvia Ornelas-Contreras, 59, of Joliet's 100 block of south Eastern Avenue. She is now in the Will County jail charged with felony retail theft.

Watch: Carson's At Louis Mall Busts Shoplifter Trying To Steal $500 In Merchandise

Joliet's Deputy Chief Ed Gregory said that Ornelas-Contreras was shopping in Carson's around 2 p.m. Monday when she walked up to the counter and paid for a dress. From there, she remained inside the Carson's store and walked through several aisles. Police say she then began placing several items of clothes, purses and wallets into her Carson's shopping bag. Then, she tried to walk out of the store without paying for the extra merchandise. That's when Carson's loss prevention team swooped in and grabbed her. Joliet police officers were called to the mall. The stolen merchandise was recovered, and it was worth $508, police said.

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Booking mugshot via Will County Sheriff's Department