Police: 5 Men Try to Steal $17,000 in Merchandise From Bass Pro Shops

Five men have been charged with felony retail theft after police said they attempted to purchase $17,000 worth of merchandise at in with gift cards they bought with stolen credit cards.

Police said Erick Manuel Costas-Delgado, 21, of Tucson, AZ, Juan Emmanuel Villela, 29, of Tucson, AZ, Fernando Hernandez, 24, of Tucson, AZ, Ismael H. Assalia-Jacott, 22, of Las Parde, Hermosillo, and Gerardo L. Melendez, 21, of Tucson, AZ, purchased an Arctic Cat ATV and Trailstar trailer at 1:25 p.m. Friday.

They used numerous gift cards in order to pay for the units, according to reports. When Bass Pro employees ran the gift cards, they determined they had been purchased with stolen credit cards at other Bass Pro stores.

Police said the offenders had already left the store and were scheduled to pick up the units at 11 a.m. Saturday.

When they returned to the store this weekend, they were taken into custody and charged with felony retail theft and transported to the Will County Adult Detention Center.

Police said a gold Chevrolet Suburban rental was seized along with the units purchased.

The incident remains under investigation.