Thieving Druggie Couple Stole From Ace Hardware, Guy Tried Ripping Off Doc’s: Cops

WILMINGTON, IL — A Wilmington couple got in a car crash on their way to a pawn shop to sell what they stole from a hardware store, then also got caught with drugs, police said.

Carl Parham, 32, and Jessie Northcutt, 27, reportedly crashed in Stickney Saturday afternoon. They were headed to a pawn shop to sell power tools they stole from an Ace Hardware, police said. The couple allegedly walked out of the store with $600 worth of merchandise.

Parham turned out to be holding two small baggies of heroin, a few Xanax pills and some ill-gotten cash, police said.

The Wilmington police then reportedly linked Parham to both the Ace Hardware heist and an attempt to break into Doc’s Drugs. He was charged with both crimes, and with felony drug possession.

“Northcutt was arrested the following day at her residence, where she was found with the packaging from the DeWalt power tools, as well as multiple Xanax pills and a small amount of cannabis,” according to a statement released by the Wilmington Police Department.

Northcutt and Parham remain in custody at the Will County jail. Northcutt’s bond has been set at $15,000 and Parham’s was set at $27,500.

Jessie Northcutt and Carl Parham | images via Will County Sheriff's Department