Man sentenced to 3 years for stealing 1,868 cases of beer, trailer

A Melrose Park man who went on a beer run some college students only dream about is headed back to prison.

Thomas Gibbons, 48, pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to theft of between $10,000 and $100,000, moments before his jury trial was set to begin in DuPage County. He was sentenced to three years in prison and $517 in fines. He will turn himself in on Feb. 2 to begin serving his sentence.

Prosecutors said Gibbons stole 1,868 cases of beer and the trailer they were being transported in from a McHenry-based Miller distributor on Oct. 30, 2012.

Using GPS, the Greater Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force tracked the equipment to a commercial property connected to Gibbons on the 400 block of Industrial Drive in Bensenville, where they also found most of the beer.

According to court records, Gibbons has served time in prison for assault, vehicle theft and burglary. He also has a history of violating orders of protection and crimes against police.

Gibbons has been free on $25,000 bail since Nov. 9, 2012.