ID Theft Suspect Nabbed Near Orland Mall Santa

ORLAND PARK, IL - A 19-year-old woman who police say tried to use a 46-year-old's identity to open a credit application at the Kay Jewelers in Orland Square Mall on Sunday was chased down and taken into custody by police. Orland Park police charged Victory Swanigan on Country Club Hills with identity theft, unlawful possession of fraudulent ID card, criminal damage to government supported property and resisting arrest after an incident that was witnessed by several mall patrons including a few who were in line to see Santa Claus.

Swanigan was at the jewelry store at about 1:16 p.m. when she was using the identity card owned by a victim who lives in Arizona, Orland Park Police Sgt. Anthony Ferrell told Patch. Employees at the store noticed an age difference between the person on the identification card and Swanigan and flagged down an Orland Park police officer not the mall about the suspected fraud.

Upon seeing the officer, Swanigan began to flee on foot with the officer in chase, Farrell said.

"The quick police officer captured Victory as she exited the mall near lower level Sears," he said. "Victory attempted to resist being handcuffed and continued to try to escape, but the officer was able to subdue her."

The foot chase was witnessed by a busy mall crowd on a Sunday afternoon during the holiday season, with one Facebook user capturing a photo of the altercation and sharing it with members of a local community watch group.

The Facebook user said the end of the chase took place not far from when young children were in line to see Santa.

"Although the route traveled by the offender in the foot pursuit may have passed near the area of the location of Santa Claus, I have no information that Santa’s operation was interrupted by the event," Farrell said.

Farrell said that after Swanigan was arrested and taken into custody, she chewed a hole in the mattress of her jail cell and then ripped the mattress open.

Photo via Orland Park Police Department