Teacher Charged With Retail Theft

A LaGrange preschool teacher was charged with shoplifting after she walked out of a department store with a purse full of clothing, prosecutors said Monday In court.

Andrea Novak, 26, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on a charge of retail theft.

According to the charges, Novak entered a fitting room around noon June 5 at Macy’s, 1 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park,

Novak was observed entering the fitting room with several items of clothing. She exited empty handed and was later confronted outside the store, where the six articles of clothing were found in her purse and other bags, the prosecutor said.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Novak was a teacher in LaGrange.

The prosecutor said Novak had no prior criminal background.

“I’m perplexed,” Judge Felice said. “Talk about throwing your career away, presuming you’re innocent.”

Novak said she was not a certified teacher.

Judge Felice released Novak on a $25,000 I-bond. Her next court date is June 26 in Bridgeview.