Wilmette Police Make Arrest After Bike Taken From Metra Rack

WILMETTE, IL — Wilmette police said officers arrested a 49-year-old man after they saw him cut a bike lock and take a bicycle from the Metra Train Station bike rack.

According to the Wilmette Police Department, the incident happened June 30 at about 3 p.m. Police said officers observed a suspect, later identified as Thomas E. Pierce, cut the lock and remove the bicycle. Officers then took Pierce into custody, recovered the bicycle and located the owner, according to the release.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved felony charges of theft and possession of burglary tools, according to the release. Pierce was also charged with misdemeanor offenses tied to the incident, including criminal damage of less than $500, resisting a peace officer and obstructing identification.

Authorities also said Pierce had two active Cook County warrants unrelated to the Wilmette case, one for failure to appear in a previous retail theft case and one for obstructing identification.

Police identified Pierce as unhoused, with a last known address in the 1600 block of West 82nd Street in Chicago. After the arrest, Pierce was transported to the Cook County Jail.