Christmas Packages Taken from Porch on South Ridgeland

A Chicago man accused of stealing a little bit of Christmas from an Oak Park front porch is due in court Friday.

Jimmie Burks, 45, teared up as Oak Park police took his police mugshot on Nov. 28. A neighbor saw a man take four packages from a porch on the 800 block of South Ridgeland Avenue, followed the man and called police, who stopped Burks on the 100 block of Harrison St. shortly after 4 p.m.

The packages contained a set of Hot Wheels toy cars, sports-themed action figures, candy bracelets and a goalie’s helmet, according to police. (Now you know what you’re getting for Christmas, whoever lives on South Ridgeland.) The thief ditched the items in a Dumpster, however, as he was being followed by the neighbor.