A 25-year-old man has been charged with eight felony counts of retail theft for a series of alleged incidents at a single retail store in Chicago's 19th District. Maxwell Antonian, of the 2700 block of W. Harrison St., was arrested on Tuesday and is accused of taking merchandise valued at over $300 during multiple visits to the store located in the 3100 block of N. Clark St. The Chicago Police Department revealed that Antonian's arrest followed a long-term investigation, which tracked the retail thefts spanning from early to late August 2024, and concluding on September 2, 2024.
According to a press release obtained by the Chicago Police Department, the alleged offenses took place on August 5, 6, 16, 17, 27, and September 2 with varying evening and afternoon times logged during his visits. The specifics of the items taken, or their cumulative worth, were not disclosed. Antonian, whose case was heard at a detention hearing at 2600 S. California yesterday, was placed into custody and charged accordingly.
The details surrounding the investigation and subsequent arrest highlight an ongoing struggle to combat retail theft in the city, an issue that continues to notably impact local businesses. Store thefts such as these typically lead to increased security measures and higher costs that often, unfortunately, get passed down to consumers. While Antonian has been charged, the Chicago Police Department has not released further information regarding potential accomplices or the investigative techniques used to identify him as the offender.
