Louis Joliet Mall Clothing Thief Caught By Joliet Police: Cops

JOLIET, IL — For the second straight year, 37-year-old New Lenox resident Brian Berka has been arrested on felony retail theft charges here in Will County. On Saturday evening, Joliet police officers drove away from the Louis Joliet Mall with Berka in the back of their squad car.

The New Lenox resident who lives on Sonoma Road was delivered to the Will County Jail following his arrest on charges of retail theft. Shortly before 5 p.m., Joliet police showed up at the Buckle store inside the mall.

"It was determined that Berka retrieved a new fleece sweatshirt from the rack and put it on," Joliet police advised. "Berka was observed by store employees exiting the store past the last point of purchase without paying for the sweatshirt."

According to police, Berka was spotted at one of the nearby stores inside the Louis Mall and "he was wearing a sweatshirt with the security device still intact. Berka was positively identified and was taken into custody without incident."

Berka spent two nights in the county jail before posting 10 percent of his $10,000 bail on Monday night. Jail logs indicate the Will County Sheriff's Office arrested Berka in 2019 and he spent about 10 days in custody following that arrest on two counts of retail theft, criminal property damage, as well as driving on a suspended license and operating without auto insurance.