Distraction Thieves Target Palos Heights Restaurant: Cops

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL -- Distraction thieves made off with an undisclosed amount of money after two of them pretended to use the bathroom at a Palos Heights restaurant, according to a community alert. Police are warning local businesses to be on their toes after similar incidents were reported of people loitering in businesses and asking a lot of questions without making any purchases.

Around 2:30 p.m. Nov. 8, four young men, all described as being in their late teens and early twenties, entered the Simple Taste restaurant at 12246 S. Harlem Ave. After engaging the owner in conversation and distracting her, police said one of the suspects said he was going to the bathroom. He walked toward the restrooms with another suspect. Instead of using the bathroom, the two went into a private office and stole money, police said.

They returned to the front of the store where they joined their comrades, and continued to talk for a short while before all four exited the store. No vehicles were spotted. The four were described as male blacks.

Suspect #1 was wearing a black hooded hack and gray sweatpants. Suspect #2 wore a black T-shirt and blue jeans. Suspect 3 was wearing a black hooded jacket and gray sweatpants, while suspect #4 wore a black T-shirt and multi-colored sweatpants.

Palos Heights PD said other business in town have reported suspicious incidents similar to alleged Simple Taste distraction thieves engaging them in conversation about store hours, the number of employees and looking around without buying anything.

Anyone who might recognize these individuals, seen these gentleman in their business, or believes they may have had a similar theft occur in their business, is urged to call the Palos Heights Police Department at 708-448-5060.