A Chicago man, already facing charges for a previous felony retail theft, has been implicated in a series of thefts across DuPage County businesses, leading to the revocation of his pre-trial release. According to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, Felix Pitre Romero, 31, has recently been charged with committing multiple retail thefts while out on pre-trial release for a prior incident. Officers from the Oak Brook Police Department apprehended Pitre Romero at an Ulta store in Tinley Park during a theft attempt.
The spree of crimes attributed to Pitre Romero includes thefts from three Ulta store locations and a Nordstrom Rack, stretching from late October to mid-November. He allegedly stole thousands of dollars' worth of fragrances in these incidents. During the first appearance in court, Romero was not detained pre-trial under the Safe-T-Act, but a motion filed by the State later revoked his pre-trial release on existing charges. This included the theft of approximately $432.99 worth of clothing from the Dick’s Sporting Goods in Lombard on February 1, 2024, as stated in reports from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.
"It is alleged that while on pre-trial release for a previous felony retail theft, Mr. Pitre Romero repeatedly thumbed his nose at the criminal justice system committing crime after crime," said Robert Berlin, DuPage County State’s Attorney. He further emphasised the need for adjustments to the Safe-T-Act to grant judges more discretion, highlighting the issue with repeat offenders and pre-trial release constraints. Berlin thanked the Oak Brook Police Department for their diligence and efforts in maintaining the safety of retail spaces.
Responding to the incidents, Oak Brook Chief of Police Brian Strockis acknowledged the dedication of his team in pursuing and capturing the suspect. Acknowledging the collaborative efforts, Strockis stated, "Although the offender in this incident evaded arrest on the date of occurrence, our Tac Officers and Investigators were relentless in locating the individual responsible and bringing him to justice." He expressed gratitude for the assistance from the Orland Park Police Department and the guidance from the State’s Attorney's Office.
With a court appearance slated for December 15, 2025, before Judge Brian Telander, proceedings against Pitre Romero move forward. It's reminded by officials that these charges represent accusations, stressing the legal principle that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court. Further updates on the case are expected following the upcoming court appearance.
