Shoplifters Snag Jeans, Jackets from The Dressing Room

Barbara Ruiz is stunned.

She’s owned The Dressing Room, 4752 N. Lincoln Ave., for eight years and has never had more than an occasional problem with shoplifting. But this week, her store was hit twice; the loss totaling hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise.

On Tuesday, Ruiz chased a shoplifter who had taken off with a $180 pair of jeans. The woman got into a black getaway car.

“When she left, I ran out the door and she had pepper spray out,” Ruiz said. “I tried to grab her bag and felt something lumpy inside, but she was just faster than me.” 

The store owner said she called 911 and the police took a report over the phone. Then, two leather jackets—each valued at $328—and several pairs of jeans in one size went missing over the weekend.

“The store was really busy Saturday and Sunday; they did it right under our noses and we found the empty hangers,” she said.

Ruiz said the suspected group of thieves had about six to eight people in it. They were all described as black women who were around 25 years old, she said. The women ranged in size, however. Tuesday’s suspect was very petite, Ruiz said, while one in the weekend group—a size 12—was about 5 feet, 10 inches tall. All were wearing coats and carrying large bags.

“They come in alone or in pairs and pretend not to know each other,” she said. “It really depresses me beyond just losing the merchandise.”

According to the most recent Chicago Police ClearMap data, there were five instances of retail theft in Lincoln Square between Oct. 1 and Oct. 17.

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