Walmart Nabs Joliet Thief, New Lenox Police Say

NEW LENOX, IL - A sharp-eyed employee at the Walmart store in New Lenox is being credited by New Lenox Police officials with helping catch a store thief late Wednesday night. Shortly before midnight, the Walmart store called the New Lenox Police Department regarding a retail theft. When officers arrived, the suspected thief, Sebastian Gates, was already being detained by the store's employees. Gates had tried to steal about $120 worth of merchandise, according to New Lenox Deputy Chief of Police Louis Alessandrini. Gates is accused of stealing a number of cellphone accessories including a battery charging cable, a power bank and a cell phone case, New Lenox police said.

Additionally, when New Lenox officers took Gates into custody at the Walmart store they discovered he possessed a number of prescription pills - pills he did not have a prescription for, Alessandrini said. Gates was handcuffed and put into the back of a New Lenox patrol car. Officers drove him to the Will County Adult Detention Facility. He now faces one charge of unlawful possession of controlled substances and a second charge of retail theft.

Over the past year, Gates, who turns 19 next week, has become a familiar face at the Will County jail, according to court records.

Last May, Joliet Police officers arrested Gates on a felony charge of possessing a black Taurus semi-automatic gun that had a defaced serial number, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of controlled substances, court records show. By summer, under a plea deal, Gates pleaded guilty to the firearms charge and got probation. In August, he was charged with resisting arrest in Joliet. In November, Gates pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of obstructing an officer, and he drew a short jail sentence.

November 2017 mugshot

Gates lives in the 400 block of Joliet's Garnsey Avenue.

Mugshots of Sebastian Gates via Will County Sheriff's Department