Northbrook man pleads guilty to retail theft
A 22-year-old Northbrook man arrested as part of a retail theft ring that targeted the suburbs has pleaded guilty, court records show.
Zvanko Dobobrov, of the 2200 block of Cedar Court, was sentenced to two years' probation, according to court records.
His fellow defendants next appear in court May 27.
Arlington Heights police said Dobobrov and Kochak Owens, 19, Natsasa Petrov, 36, and Dragan Moro Owens, 37, all of the 3500 block of Carol Lane in Northbrook, stole thousands of dollars in merchandise.
They were arrested after a four-month investigation led by Arlington Heights police. The Cook County state's attorney's Regional Organized Crime Task Force along with police departments from Bloomingdale, Downers Grove, Gurnee, Niles, Northbrook, Schaumburg and Vernon Hills were also involved.
Authorities say ring members distracted the retailers' loss prevention officers to steal items, which they then sold through an online auction site.
During searches in February 2015, police recovered $20,000 in stolen merchandise, a Mercedes-Benz, two firearms, $45,000 in jewelry and $100,000 in cash.
Charges of continuing a financial crime enterprise are still pending against Moro Owens, Petrov and Owens.