Police: Two Men Steal TVs to Pay Heroin Dealer, 'Tiny'

Two men told this past week that they stole TVs from Target to feed their heroin addictions.

Matthew R. Maka, 23, of the 1100 block of Plaza Drive in Joliet, and Matthew R. Richards, 23, of the 1500 block of South Chicago Street in Joliet, were taken into police custody on Wednesday, according to the report.

The pair wheeled a 37-inch television out of Super Target on Tuesday without paying for it, police said. When they returned Wednesday to the store located at 7300 191st St. in , a security guard recognized them from the day before and called the cops.

The two tried stealing a second TV and were detained once they left the store, according to the police report. 

"Richards advised that he and Maka took the TVs to trade for heroin and that they would get seven small bags of heroin for each TV that they took to their friend 'Tiny,'" the report said. " … Maka also advised that he has a heroin addiction and would get heroin from 'Tiny' when he took the TVs to him."

Each flat-screen television had a price tag of $499.99, the report said. Police said Richards made several calls Wednesday to a man he wouldn't name, asking that he bring the first stolen TV to the station.  

"Richards advised that the first time he called the person with the TV they said they would return the TV," the report said. "When Richards made calls after that, the person would either hang up on him or not answer."

Maka and Richards were each charged with two counts of felony retail theft.

Richards had several outstanding warrants including one for obstructing justice out of Grundy County, one for possession of marijuana out of Will County and two failure-to-appear warrants for retail theft out of Will County. 

Looking for more crime news?

Like us on Facebook