Trio arrested on pickpocket charges

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Marva Karikari

Updated: March 11, 2012 8:48AM

DEER PARK — Three Cook County residents have been arrested in a pickpocket scam that began in mid-January in the Deer Park Town Center, authorities said Thursday.

On Jan. 15 and Jan. 19, the suspects entered the Panera Bread Company and Noodles and Company in Deer Park with the intention of taking wallets from purses that patrons would hang over their seats while eating in both establishments, a Lake County Sheriff’s Office spokesman said.

Sheriff’s investigators recovered video from the stores in an effort to identify potential suspects. Detectives soon learned that similar incidents had occurred in the Riverwoods area and Riverwoods police had picked up three suspects.

Prior to going to bond court on the Riverwoods charges, investigators interviewed the suspects and were able to identify them as the same individuals that were on the Deer Park videotape.

Investigators determined the three would take credit cards from the victims’ wallets and use them to purchase Target gift cards at the Target located on Dundee Road, Palatine.

Charged in the case were 26-year-old Michelle Johnson, and Rickey Anderson, 45, both of Chicago; and Marva Karikari, 40, of south suburban Darien.

All three were charged with one count each of unlawful use of a credit card, a Class 3 felony. The trio appeared Thursday in front of Lake County Circuit Court Associate Judge Raymond Collins where their bond was set at $50,000 for Anderson; $25,000 for both Johnson and Karikari.

Lake County detectives will work with other Chicago area police to determine if the three are responsible for any other crimes.

Anyone who feels they may have fallen victim to this type of crime is encouraged to call Detective David Tomasello at (847) 377-4250.

“Cooperation and information sharing among local law enforcement is crucial to combating criminal cases like this one,” said Sheriff Mark Curran.