Elder Brewing Nabs Guitar Thief, Police Say

JOLIET, IL - The Elder Brewing Company added live music to their venue last year and on Saturday night a patron was caught stealing a guitar, according to Joliet Police reports. At 8:12 p.m., Samuel Howell, 58, of Joliet was hauled away in handcuffs from the downtown microbrewery located at 218 E. Cass St.

Howell was charged with theft over $500, police reports show. Joliet Police responded to Elder Brewing shortly before 8 p.m. on Saturday night concerning a theft.

"Officers were able to determine that Howell took a guitar that wasn’t his and placed it under his coat. Howell attempted to walk out of the establishment when Howell was stopped by staff members who recovered the guitar," police reports state.

Joliet Police arrest records listed Howell as being homeless. However, logs at the Will County Jail listed Howell as residing in the 1700 block of Pinewood Lane on the city's east side. Either way, Howell slept at the county jail on Saturday night and Sunday night.

He was supposed to appear before a judge on Monday afternoon for a bond hearing.

Last May, Joliet Patch had a feature story about how Elder Brewing had expanded the size of its microbrewery so it could offer live music for guests.