Multistate tire theft suspect faces charge in Naperville

A Chicago man suspected of stealing tires from car dealerships in three states has been charged with hitting a Naperville lot in June.

DuPage County Judge Elizabeth Sexton set bail Friday at $150,000 for Joshua Griffith, 35, of the 6200 block of Touhy Avenue.

Griffith is accused of taking four Dunlop tires and four Goodyear tires from new vehicles at Toyota of Naperville, 1488 W. Ogden Ave. The theft occurred shortly before 5 a.m. June 15, according to court records.

Prosecutors said Naperville police identified Griffith as a suspect and had him under surveillance when he traveled to Indiana and central Illinois and stole tires from dealerships there. He was arrested Thursday upon returning from Wisconsin, where he is also suspected of stealing tires, Assistant State’s Attorney Tom Vega said in bond court.

Authorities estimated the value of the tires stolen in all three states at $30,000 to $40,000. In Griffith’s garage, they also found a vehicle that had been reported stolen in Bensenville, prosecutors said.

Vega said Griffith has a criminal history involving theft dating back to 1995. In DuPage County, he was charged with one count of felony theft but could face additional charges here and in the other jurisdictions, Vega said.

Griffith would have to post a $15,000 bond to be released from the county jail. He’s scheduled to appear Oct. 15 before Judge George Bakalis.