Walmart TV Thief Flees, Joliet Police Make Arrest: Cops

JOLIET, IL — A 24-year-old Joliet man was arrested Monday night after Joliet police say he tried stealing three television sets from the Walmart store on West Jefferson Street. Later, Joliet police say they spotted Shawndale Jackson on Larkin Avenue and arrested him on charges of retail theft and criminal damage to property.

The crime at the Walmart store occurred around 9:15 p.m.

"Officers determined that Jackson had placed three televisions in a shopping cart and attempted to leave the store, passing the last point of sale without paying for the items," Joliet police reports show. "Further investigation showed Jackson had damaged a retail security device by removing it from the televisions with a knife."

Near the exit door, Walmart employees confronted Jackson and that's when he left the stolen TVs and ran to his vehicle and drove off, according to Joliet police.

Minutes later, patrol officers were notified of the crime and one of them spotted Jackson driving in the 200 block of South Larkin Avenue, reports indicate.

"Jackson was positively identified by Walmart staff and he was taken into custody without incident," Joliet police said.

Jackson lives in the 100 block of Louis Road, which is in the Preston Heights area, Will County Jail logs show.