Seven Northwest suburbs investigating trio in connection with wallet thefts

A Chicago man has been charged with theft of a wallet from a purse in a restaurant, Des Plaines police said. The man and two people who were picked up with him also are under investigation in connection with similar thefts in seven other Northwest suburbs, police said in a news release.

Officers responded at 12:40 p.m. Tuesday to a call of a theft at Panera Bread, 1518 Market St. Witnesses told the victim a man had taken a wallet from her purse while she stepped away for a moment.

The victim followed the man to a waiting vehicle, noted the vehicle information and contacted police.

A short time later a Des Plaines police supervisor observed a vehicle matching the description and tried to stop it. The driver tried to elude police in a car before trying to flee on foot, the news release said.

The supervisor was able to detain the vehicle and the three people inside until more officers arrived. The victim identified Tyrell L. Frazier, 51, of the 10600 block of South Eberhardt Street, Chicago, as the man who took the wallet, according to police. He was charged with felony theft and bail was set at $25,000. His next court date is May 2 in Skokie.

Police said they learned that the two other people in the car were under investigation in Northbrook and Glenview for unlawful use of credit cards. Investigators from Niles, Morton Grove, Norridge, Park Ridge, Glenview, Northbrook and Arlington Heights are currently investigating the three people in connection with similar types of crimes in their jurisdictions, according to the news release.