Cops: Customer tackles cigarette thief in Geneva

A Geneva man's attempt to steal a carton of cigarettes from 7-Eleven was thwarted Saturday when a customer tackled him to the ground, police said.

From there, things went from bad to worse for 19-year-old Andrew Krause, of the 700 block of North Street, who ended up being charged with felony burglary in an unrelated case, according to Kane County court records.

Geneva police said an unidentified customer tackled Krause outside the 7-Eleven at 621 W. State St. shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday after he swiped a carton of Camel Filters valued at $49.87. Although a store clerk was able to retrieve the smokes, police said, Krause fled the scene and was arrested five blocks away.

When officers searched Krause, police said, they found a wallet and credit cards bearing someone else's name, an opened pack of Marlboro Lights and a Phillips MP3 player.

Police said they then went to the address on the driver's license, arriving to find a vehicle parked in the driveway with one of its driver's side doors partially open. At that point, they notified the owner, who checked the vehicle and said his wallet, MP3 player and Marlboro Lights were missing.

Krause was charged with misdemeanor retail theft and Class 2 felony burglary, according to court records. He also was charged with unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor after police said they smelled alcohol on his breath.

Krause, who appears to have no prior criminal history in Kane County other than a traffic offense, remained in the county jail Monday with bond set at $10,000. His next court date is Thursday.