Trio accused of stealing diabetic test strips from Meijer stores

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Updated: January 19, 2012 6:00PM

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — Police say three people from Michigan stole diabetic testing strips from a big-box retailer in three states before their arrests Wednesday.

“They hit every Meijer their GPS could find from St. Joseph, Mich., through Indiana, into Illinois,” Bolingbrook Lt. Mike Rompa said. Maps found in their van included information about the Meijer in Merrillville.

At 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, police were called to the Meijer store at 225 N. Weber Road, Bolingbrook, where a van was leaving the parking lot.

Rompa said the same van had been involved in a retail theft about 15 minutes earlier at the Meijer at 755 E. Boughton Road.

“An officer located the van (back) on Boughton Road and stopped it for a (missing) taillight and the fact it had been reported as being involved in an earlier theft,” Rompa said.

Kate A. Crandall, 19, and her passengers, Matthew A. Jordan, 22, and Dalton J. McLain, 18, were later identified as the three shoplifters by store security guards, Rompa said.

After questioning the suspects, police allegedly found a Meijer basket inside the van that contained $2,600 worth of diabetic test strips, three small plastic baggies of cannabis and hypodermic needles.

“(Officers) also found numerous Michigan ID cards and detailed information about the thefts, including Meijer store maps of locations in Merrillville, Ind., Orland Park and Bolingbrook,” Rompa said.

Orland Park, Ill., investigators reported the trio had taken approximately $1,000 worth of diabetic test strips from the Meijer at 15701 S. 71st Court earlier Wednesday afternoon.

According to reports, diabetic test strips have become a popular target for thieves because their high cost (usually $60 to $100 for a box of 50 or 100) is covered by insurance. Enough uninsured diabetics will pay a discounted price on the black market to make them worth fencing.

All three suspects were booked into the Will County Jail.

Crandall, of St. Joseph, was charged with shoplifting, possession of stolen property, driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured vehicle. McLain, also of St. Joseph, was charged with shoplifting and possession of stolen property.

Jordan, of Baroda, was charged with shoplifting, possession of stolen property and cannabis possession.