Man steals bubbly from Whole Foods, prompting 63rd arrest
A 70-year-old West Side man who racked up his 63rd arrest after allegedly stealing three bottles of champagne from a Lake View neighborhood Whole Foods store on Sunday has been charged with felony retail theft.
John Crowe, 70, of the 1200 block of South Kedvale Avenue, was initially charged with retail theft, a misdemeanor, according to police, but the charge was upgraded to a felony Monday afternoon, according to police News Affairs Officer Michael Fitzpatrick.
Whole Foods security guard Julio Avila signed a complaint after Crowe allegedly placed three bottles of champagne under his jacket and walked out the door without paying. The bubbly was valued at $135, according to a police report.
The guard detained Crowe until Chicago Police could arrive. Crowe is scheduled to appear for a hearing in Central Bond Court at 11 a.m. Tuesday, police said.