CBS 2 Chicago wbbm7801059 670 The Score

Local

Report: Serial Thief Assassinated Victims’ Characters Online

Jicheng Liu, 32, is charged with cyber-stalking and suspected of running a high-end fencing operation, after police recovered hundreds of stolen items from his home. (Credit: Cook County Sheriff's Office)

Jicheng Liu, 32, is charged with cyber-stalking and suspected of running a high-end fencing operation, after police recovered hundreds of stolen items from his home. (Credit: Cook County Sheriff’s Office)

Don't Miss This
Don't Miss This

CHICAGO (CBS) — Cook County prosecutors say a Chinese citizen is in the County Jail, awaiting trial on charges he stole storage lockers full of merchandise and cyber-terrorized anyone who got in his way.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports, Jicheng “Kevin” Liu, 32, is alleged to have stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of property from people’s homes, and used the Internet to try to destroy the reputations of everyone from former bosses to people who called the police on him, and even the actual officers who arrested him, the Chicago Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner and Jason Meisner reported Thursday morning.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports


In one case, prosecutors tell the Tribune, Liu stole a stroller from a Roscoe Village woman, and was arrested. He proceeded to run ads online claiming his accuser worked as a prostitute from her home, and men started showing up at their front door in the middle of the night and waking up the woman and her husband, thinking they had appointments for sex.

Liu also allegedly launched a character assassination of a theft victim whom he mistakenly thought had had him arrested, claiming she routinely mistreated patients in her position as a children’s hospital nurse. He also posed as a female homebuyer on the Internet and accused the woman’s realtor husband of rape, the newspaper reported.

In a third case, a couple who sold high-end products on eBay suspected that Liu was hawking stolen items, and moved to stop one of his eBay auctions, the Tribune reported. In response, Liu left multiple comments calling the couple dishonest – costing them their entire business – and began texting them threats about their young child, the newspaper reported.

In another incident, Liu posted on a Web site accusing a police officer who arrested him of molesting half a dozen children, the Tribune reported.

Police raided Liu’s Lincoln Park neighborhood last month. Authorities found truckloads of high-end stolen goods at his home and inside five storage units, including bikes, golf clubs, strollers, even personal photos. Many officers said it was the biggest individual stash they’ve ever seen.

Authorities said Liu would clean out victims’ garages, using about 70 garage door openers, many labeled with specific addresses.

Police said Liu also grabbed some 500 packages off front porches.

On March 26, the Town Hall District police station, 850 W. Addison St., looked more like a flea market as police displayed the items in an attempt to return them to their owners.

Altogether, the truckloads of stolen items were worth about $500,000.

The Tribune reports Liu has been in the United States illegally for more than 10 years. He stands charged with felony cyber-stalking.

Listen Live!

RSS Most Popular News

Follow CBS Chicago

Like us on foursquare

RSS Contests & Promotions

  • Benjamin Moore Which Team Colors Matter Most? May 24, 2013
    Which Team Colors matter most to you? Either way, you could be a winner! Just sign up now for a chance to win $500 Depot Dollars to the Chicago Sports Depot to pick up some gear with your favorite team colors as they battle it out this week!
  • AVEENO® MEN’S “Building a Healthier Foundation” Sweepstakes May 21, 2013
    AVEENO® Men’s™ knows your family is your foundation. And to take good care of them, you need to take good care of yourself. Win a family day at the ballpark from AVEENO® Men’s™.
  • Join Hankook Tire To Reel In The Next Big Catch May 20, 2013
    Join Hankook tire to reel in the next great catch! Click here to go to www.TirePrize.com and enter for your chance to win the ultimate fishing excursion in Puerto Rico!
  • Meet Jim Rome On Set In Los Angeles May 20, 2013
    AutoZone and the Jim Rome Show are giving one winner and a guest a trip to meet Jim Rome in Los Angeles on the set of his Showtime television show! Enter for your chance to win!
WBBM Newsradio 780, Radio Stations & Broadcast Companies, Chicago, IL

Twitter Updates