Rockdale Thief Exits Target Store's Emergency Door, Hides In Brush Behind Store: Joliet Police

JOLIET, IL — For the fourth time since 2022, 39-year-old Rockdale citizen John Planinsek has found himself in the Will County Jail. This time, he was arrested with a woman from Godley named Kattie Ryle, 34, in connection with criminal activity at the Target store on Plainfield Road.

According to the Joliet police summary, and it's a long one, on September 24, at 9:11 p.m., the officers responded to the Target at 2701 Plainfield Road for a past tense retail theft.

The officers learned that on September 23, Planinsek was suspected of placing over $2,000 worth of merchandise in a cart and leaving the store without paying for the merchandise.

While the officers were taking the report for the previous theft, they learned that Planinsek and a female, later identified as Ryle, were back in the store, again.

Both were spotted on surveillance video placing over $1,000 worth of merchandise in their cart, Joliet police pointed out. Ryle exited the store toward a white van that matched the vehicle description that was used the day prior. She was then placed into custody by the officers in the parking lot. Following a search, Joliet police say the officers recovered Xanax and Clonazepam pills.

The van was reported stolen from Ottawa.

As for Planinsek, he exited through an emergency exit of the store with the cart and ran from the officers, refusing orders to stop, leaving the cart behind. He continued to run and was later located hiding in an area of brush behind the store and placed into custody, the police advised.

Meanwhile, Joliet police say Planinsek allegedly took methamphetamine and fentanyl prior to the arrest. He was transported to St Joseph Medical Center and Planinsek was released from the hospital the morning of September 26. Joliet police booked him into the Will County Jail on two counts of retail theft, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of a controlled substance.

As for Kattie Ryle, the Godley woman was charged with retail theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, and possession of a controlled substance. She was released on a notice to appear in court.