Joseph Grabenhofer (left) and Pawel Loboz (right) are accused of filling an empty Samsung Tablet box with rocks and newspaper, then trying to “return” the box to a Sears store in Orland Park to get a “refund.” (Credit: Orland Park Police)
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ORLAND PARK, Ill. (STMW) – Two southwest suburban teens were arrested this week for trying to pull off a crime that was literally as dumb as a box of rocks.
The 19-year-olds attempted to get a refund of more than $400 on a tablet computer at an Orland Park Sears store, police said. But the tablet computer box they brought in was actually filled with rocks, according to police.
On Tuesday, Orland Park plainclothes officers saw the pair in the parking lot of Orland Square Mall in an area currently under construction. One of the two, later identified as Pawel Loboz of Lockport, was seen collecting rocks from the construction area, police said.
A short time later the second man, Joseph Grabenhofer of Crest Hill, was seen leaving Sears carrying a shopping bag. They drove back to the construction area and Loboz collected more rocks, before they got back in the vehicle and returned to Sears.
They then asked for a refund on a Samsung Tablet, valued more than $400, but Sears security investigated the transaction and found the box contained rocks from the construction site.
Two teenagers allegedly filled a Samsung Tablet box with rocks and newspaper in an effort to “return” the box to a Sears store for a “refund.” (Credit: Orland Park Police)
Two teenagers allegedly filled a Samsung Tablet box with rocks and newspaper in an effort to “return” the box to a Sears store for a “refund.” (Credit: Orland Park Police)
Grabenhofer and Loboz attempted to run from the store, but were stopped by police and taken into custody. They charged with one misdemeanor count each of retail theft, and are expected to appear for a hearing at the Bridgeview courthouse on July 12, police said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
