Parolee Charged With Pinching Potty from Home Depot: Prosecutors

Wei H. Shan, 29 | Illinois Department of Corrections

A man currently out on parole is accused of stealing a toilet and other items from a home improvement store in Countryside, prosecutors said.

Wei H. Shan, 29, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on a charge of aggravated retail theft.

According to the charges, Shan visited Home Depot, 140 Countryside Plaza, Countryside, around 11 a.m. Sunday.

After loading a Kohler toilet, tile and other merchandise onto a flatbed hand truck, prosecutors said Shan wheeled it through the store.

Shan allegedly told a store employee he needed to go back to his car to get his ID. Instead, prosecutors said he walked past the registers outside the store, where he was apprehended.

His ID was found in his wallet on his person when he was arrested. The toilet and other merchandise taken from the store was valued at $484, according to the complaint.

Prosecutors said Shan was currently out on parole on a concurrent, two-year sentence for possession of a controlled substance and retail theft. He has nine prior felony convictions for retail theft.

The assistant public defender told the judge Shan has an alcohol and drug problem.

Judge Felice set bail at $100,000. Shan is due back in court in Bridgeview on Jan. 5.

After the bond hearing, paramedics wheeled Shan out of the courthouse on a stretcher.