Luis Mendez-Gomez, 28, and Frank Montez-Davila, 23, both of Venezuela currently staying in Chicago, have each been charged with burglary and retail theft. Mendez-Gomez was also charged with driving without a valid driver’s license, a misdemeanor.
The charges are the second that have been filed against a pair of migrants from Venezuela in recent weeks. Last month, two men from who migrated to Chicago from the South American nation were arrested after stealing merchandise from the same store. The men were fitted with electronic monitoring devices ahead of their Nov. 20 court dates.
Investigators said Mendez-Gomez and Montes-Davila allegedly entered the Macy’s store together. Once inside, Mendez-Gomez removed the “happy birthday” bag and backpack from under his shirt and the men filled both with the merchandise before leaving the store without paying for the items, prosecutors said.
“With the holiday shopping season fast approaching, I want to assure the public that in DuPage County we are one hundred percent committed to protecting our retail establishments, their employees and patrons, and anyone accused of robbing, burglarizing or shoplifting from any DuPage County business will be apprehended, charged and prosecuted,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.
