Addison police display stolen loot in attempt to ID victims
It looked more like the stockroom of Saks Fifth Avenue than a police station.
Addison police put on display Tuesday more than 500 high-end items they recovered after nabbing two men accused of operating a prolific burglary enterprise.
Police from several suburban agencies took part in the viewing with burglary victims in an effort to identify the items, valued at more than $100,000.
The merchandise includes expensive jewelry and designer sunglasses, handbags, silver, leather coats and clothing. Designer labels include Gucci, Prada, Versace and Lucky Brand jeans, to name a few.
Two men - Mario Rainone, 54, of Addison, and Vincent T. Forliano, 39, of Bloomingdale - remained in Lake County jail Tuesday on charges they burglarized a Lincolnshire home. Police said they recovered the items after searching the men's homes and cars.
Rainone is well known to law enforcement. He is a self-admitted former Chicago Crime Outfit member who quit organized crime in late 1989 when he, after realizing he was the target of a hit, began wearing a wire for the FBI while working undercover. He later gave up witness protection, and in 1992 pleaded guilty to federal extortion and racketeering charges. Rainone was sentenced to 18 years in prison and was released in 2006.
Addison Detective Cmdr. Mark Van Stedum said the monthlong investigation began after police received an anonymous Crime Stoppers tip. Addison detectives kept Rainone and Forliano under surveillance and, on Feb. 12, while police secretly watched, Van Stedum said, the men were caught after breaking into the Lincolnshire residence.
Rainone and Forliano are suspected of looting condos and motel rooms and shoplifting in stores across Cook, DuPage and Lake counties, Van Stedum said. They also recovered a gun in Rainone's home reported stolen during a Glenview break-in, Police said.
"These guys are well known to law enforcement," Van Stedum said. "We've been watching them and had been following them and, on that day, we watched them do a burglary in Lincolnshire."
Rainone remains in the Lake County jail on a $500,000 bond. Forliano, also still in custody, has a $50,000 bond.
Rainone's attorney, Sam Amirante, disputed police's representation of his client.
"Obviously, if they're looking for victims, they don't have very good evidence," Amirante said. "Sounds like they're grasping at straws."