Package Pirates Nabbed, Released On I-Bonds: Police

OAK LAWN, IL — Four people are accused of plucking packages off porches during an afternoon crime spree in Oak Lawn. Genesis Easton, 19, Anthony Easton, 22, and their 21-year-old companion Arrianna Stringfellow appeared before Cook County Judge John Mahoney on misdemeanor charges of theft and possession of stolen property.

A fourth alleged accomplice, 20-year-old Camry Godbold, also of Chicago, was taken to the Evergreen Park police station after officers there found white pills hidden in her bra during a traffic stop, the prosecutor said.

Around 2:45 p.m. Nov. 20, Oak Lawn police responded to a call of a theft that had just occurred in the 11000 block of West Tripp Avenue. A resident told police that a man wearing light jeans and a navy blue sweatshirt was taking packages off someone's porch. The man was riding in a Chevy Impala with a missing front hubcap. Officers could not find the vehicle.

At 3:45 p.m., occupants of a car with a "wobbly front wheel" were seen taking packages off of porches in the 10400 block of South Kildare Avenue. The caller was able to provide a partial license plate number, reports said.

While searching the neighborhood, police received a call of shoplifting at Home Depot in Oak Lawn, where suspects and a car matching the description of the purported package thieves were spotted. The loss prevention officer told police that the suspects got into an Impala with a missing hubcap. The store merchandise was recovered so the loss prevention officer did not wish to sign a complaint.

Around 4:30 p.m., Evergreen Park police curbed the car used in the Oak Lawn package thefts, reports said. Three women and a man were standing outside the car when Oak Lawn officers arrived. Police reported that the car smelled of burnt cannabis. Packages with Oak Lawn addresses were found strewn about the car, many of which had been opened. In addition to the packages, officers found a red, white and blue jacket belonging to Stringfellow, the prosecutor said.

Officers also said they found four boxes of DeWalt drills and two Husky mechanical tool sets, along with a box of wooden gymnastics rings and two Sharper Image laptop trays. Police said the merchandise was taken from a Home Depot in Bedford Park.

Police contacted several Oak Lawn residents, all of whom said they were expecting packages and were willing to sign complaints.

Anthony and Genesis Easton, along with Sringfellow were released on $10,000 I-bonds. Their next court date is Dec. 27 in Bridgeview.

"Go home," Mahoney said. "Stop stealing."