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Crime & Safety

Two Chicago Men Arrested for Bike Theft

The suspects allegedly stole high-end bikes in Wilmette and Evanston.

Wilmette Police arrested two Chicago men for felony bike theft Wednesday after they were seen allegedly taking bicycles from Wilmette and Evanston commuter lots.

Wilmette Police had been conducting surveillance at the after three locked bikes were stolen from the commuter lot between and . According to a press release, detectives watched Kenneth Robertson, 32, and Anthony Catena, 40, enter the parking lot and use a cordless grinder to cut the lock securing a bicycle.

Earlier:

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The statement said detectives then followed the two suspects to Evanston’s , where they watched them cut the lock off a second bike. Police said they continued following the men until they were observed loading the two bicycles into a storage facility. They were taken into custody without incident.

The statement said detectives then followed the two suspects to Evanston’s , where they watched them cut the lock off a second bike. They continued following them until they were observed loading the two bicycles into a storage facility. They were taken into custody without incident.

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A search of the facility revealed 10 high-end bicycles, plus frames and components. While in custody Robertson and Catena allegedly admitted that the bicycles recovered from their storage locker were stolen and that they were “probably” taken from commuter lots near the CTA and Metra train stops. 

Both men were charged with one felony count of theft and may be charged with additional crimes as victims are identified.

“We’re sending out a bulletin to local law enforcement to see if they can identify the owners of these bikes,” said Commander Patrick Collins of the Wilmette Police Department. “If someone’s had a high-end bike stolen from the Metra or CTA, they can call the local police department.”

Robertson received a $75,000 bond for the felony theft charge and a revocation of his bond for previous felony theft charges. Roberston was  in the Wilmette Metra parking lot June 24 after several weeks of investigation by Wilmette and Winnetka police. He was charged with two counts of felony theft and one count of possession of burglary tools.

Catena received a $50,000 bond for this felony theft charge. They are scheduled to appear at the in Skokie at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 19.

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