5 family members charged with thefts at Aurora outlet mall

Five members of a Chicago family, including two juveniles, have been charged with felony retail theft resulting from an undercover Aurora police investigation at the Chicago Premium Outlet Mall along I-88.

Maria C. Perea, 61, of the 2500 block of South Kedzie Street; Jonathan R. Rodriguez, 33, of the 2600 block of South Lawndale Avenue; and Ramon L. Ayala, 28, of the 2300 block of South Whipple Avenue; along with a 16-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl were charged around 4 p.m. Sept. 4. The adults also were charged with single counts of felony contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Police said plainclothes officers saw the five stealing items from numerous stores at the mall and then stashing the merchandise in their SUV. When officers confronted the group, they recovered roughly $3,200 in items from 16 stores.

Police said Perea was the apparent ringleader of the group and Rodriguez is her son. They are both related to the other three.

The boy was released to a family member while the girl was taken to the Kane County Youth Home in St. Charles on an outstanding domestic battery warrant.

The next court date for all of the adults is Sept. 17 at the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles.

Perea is the only adult who posted bail, which was set at $15,000. Rodriguez continues to be held in lieu of $75,000 bail and Ayala in lieu of $50,000 bail. They are both being housed in the Kane County Correctional Center in St. Charles.