James Dimock Caught Stealing Cough Syrup, Liquor At Jewel: Cops

JOLIET, IL - Wednesday's visit to the Jewel-Osco grocery store for 21-year-old James Dimock didn't go as expected. As other customers watched, the young Joliet man who lives in the 1200 block of North May Street was escorted off the property. He was put into the back of a Joliet police car and taken for a short ride downtown. He was delivered to the Will County jail. He remains in custody on a felony charge of retail theft.

While Dimock was inside the Jewel on Wednesday afternoon, the store's security officers saw him conceal multiple boxes of cough syrup inside his pants, according to Deputy Police Chief Ed Gregory. After that, Dimock stuffed several mini liquor bottles into his clothes as well, police said. Next, Dimock tried to walk out of Jewel without paying for anything. He did not get far. Jewel's security officers emerged and grabbed him. The Joliet police responded.

The stolen merchandise was worth about $100, normally a misdemeanor crime, Gregory said. But because Dimock has a previous criminal history involving retail theft, his charge was upgraded to a felony.

Dimock is set to appear before a Will County judge on Thursday afternoon for his bond hearing.

Mugshot via Will County Sheriff's Department