Cigarette Thief Punched Walgreens Clerk, Absconded With 4 Packs of Newports: Cops

A Joliet woman brawled with a Walgreens clerk before grabbing four packs of Newports and fleeing the West Jefferson Street store Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Vivian Williams, 48, parked her silver Chevy Cavalier in a handicap spot in front of the store at Jefferson and Hammes Avenue, stepped inside and walked behind the counter, police said. She then allegedly bent down and started plucking packs of cigarettes from the rack.

A clerk confronted Williams about this, police said, and Williams responded by shoving her away. A fight reportedly broke out between Williams and the 38-year-old clerk, during which Williams punched her in the stomach.

Williams broke free, told the clerk, “You’re not going to get the cigarettes from me,” and called her an obscene name, police said. The clerk reportedly used her store radio to call for assistance from other employees, but Williams wa gone before they could help her out.

Police reportedly identified Williams through surveillance video, which also captured her license plate number. They waited at her South Ottawa Street residence until she returned home, then took her into custody.

Williams was booked into the Will County jail.