Crime & Safety

Cigarette Thief to Victim: 'You're too late'

Tinley police said a man broke into another man's car at a local gas station this week and snatched hundreds of dollars in smokes.

After getting caught stealing about $260 worth of cigarettes from a Bolingbrook man's car this week, a thief at a local gas station told the owner, "You're too late" and sped away.

The victim bought five cartons of Newport 100 cigs—a total cost of $258.43—around 6:50 p.m. Monday from Speedway, 7201 183rd St., , according to the police report. He then placed the cartons in the backseat of his car and re-entered the station to get a drink, police said. He didn't lock his doors.

When the victim returned to his 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier, which was parked facing east near the north entrance of the station, he saw a man getting out of his car, police said.

"The victim stated that he approached the vehicle and the … man told him, 'You're too late,'" the report said.

The thief got into the passenger-side of a car that was parked at a nearby pump and fled the scene. A woman was driving, according to the report.

have reviewed surveillance footage of the incident and have a possible license plate of the offenders, according to the report. They said the thief also made a $2.88 purchase inside the gas station using his Speedy Rewards card.

The case remained under investigation Wednesday.


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