Walgreens Cigarette Thief's Car Seized: Petition

A Joliet woman jailed for allegedly attacking a Walgreens clerk and stealing four packs of Newports has lost her car as well as her freedom.

The police seized the 2001 Chevy Cavalier Vivian Williams used to make her getaway after allegedly snatching the cigarettes and punching a clerk.

A November court date was scheduled for Williams to try to get her car back. She also has a November court date to answer charges of robbery and aggravated battery in connection with her alleged smoke-stealing at the Walgreens on West Jefferson Street and Hammes Avenue.

Williams, 48, parked her Cavalier in a handicap spot in front of the store, 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.