Teens charged with snatching Simon from Gurnee theater

Three teenagers are charged with pilfering a 4-foot-tall plastic Simon the Chipmunk statue from Marcus Gurnee Cinema last month, authorities said Monday.

Another chipmunk, Theodore, could have met the same fate as Simon. However, Gurnee police investigators said they used a social networking site to gain information and foil a plot by the same teens before they could snatch Theodore from the theater.

Eric Pasiewicz and Ryan Sibley, both 18 and of Beach Park, were charged with theft under a less-serious local ordinance. Also charged was a 16-year-old Beach Park boy, authorities said.

Cmdr. Jay Patrick said about 15 to 20 teens were departing the Gurnee Mills theater in a cluster when Simon was snatched in the late evening Feb. 8, with the theft reported three days later. Several teenagers were involved in moving the figurine through the doors and to a waiting car, he said.

Patrick said the incident was captured on the theater's surveillance video, and a tip to police led to the suspects' identities. Simon was recovered Feb. 16 after Sibley's mother allowed a police officer to enter her home.

"The officer knocked on her door and asked for her son," Patrick said. "When she said he wasn't home, (the cop) asked if Simon was there."

Simon the Chipmunk was in Sibley's basement, Patrick said, but the suspect's mother didn't know the statue came from the theater. Simon was in his proper place Monday.

After Simon was located, police said, investigators working a popular online social networking site found information that Theodore was being targeted by the same suspects Feb. 17.

Simon and Theodore were among three figurines in the theater representing the cartoon stars of "Alvin and the Chipmunks: the Squeakquel." No known plots against Alvin were reported by police.

Patrick said the chipmunk statues are worth $300 to $400 each. He said the teenagers intended for the Simon theft to be a prank.

Authorities said the probe of the Simon caper wrapped up Feb. 26, culminating with Monday's announcement of charges filed against the teens.

Gurnee Cinema general manager Jeff Sterling declined to comment.