KANKAKEE, Ill. — A 22-year-old man from Kankakee has been charged with felony retail theft after multiple incidents of thefts totaling over $18,000 in lost merchandise at a store on Route 50 in Bradley.
The Bradley Police Department is currently investigating the thefts that took place in the 2000 block of Route 50. The department stated that it has resulted in the loss of more than $18,000 worth of merchandise.
Police reports indicate that Bradley detectives were able to identify the suspect as Rishard D. Blakemore of Kankakee with the help of the Greenfield Police Department in Wisconsin.
Blakemore reportedly admitted to stealing from the Bradley store during the investigation. In addition, he admitted to a retail theft and police pursuit in Greenfield, Wisconsin.
Blakemore has been preliminarily charged with six counts of felony retail theft, one count of resisting arrest, and an outstanding warrant from Wisconsin.
Retail theft is an ongoing problem in the United States, according to the National Retail Federation. Retailers lose billions of dollars every year due to shoplifting, employee theft, and other forms of retail crime. Retail shrinkage, which is the loss of inventory due to theft, fraud, and error, totaled $61.7 billion in 2019, according to the organization’s latest report.
The Bradley Police Department is asking anyone with information about the thefts to come forward and help with the investigation. They also remind retailers to take measures to prevent retail theft, including implementing security measures and training employees to identify and report suspicious activity.
