Thousands In Fragrances Stolen By Man On Pretrial Release In DuPage County: Prosecutors

DUPAGE COUNTY — A Chicago man who was out on pretrial release has been accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of perfume from stores in DuPage County.

Felix Pitre Romero, 31, was charged with felony burglary and felony and misdemeanor retail theft. Pitre Romero had been granted pretrial release in 2024 after he was accused of stealing more than $400 worth of clothing from Dick's Sporting Goods in Lombard.

According to police, Pitre Romero stole $1,118 in fragrances from the Ulta store at 2155 W. 22nd St. on Nov. 17. Prosecutors say a subsequent investigation led them to link Pitre Romero to a string of similar thefts in the county, including an incident in which close to $700 in fragrances had been stolen from the same store on the previous day.

Police also linked Pitre Romero to a retail theft on Nov. 9 at the Ulta at 112 Danada Square West in Wheaton. During that incident, $874 was reported stolen.

Police say two hours later, Pitre Romero stole $819.70 in fragrances from the Nordstrom store at 71 Danada Square East.

He is also tied to an Oct. 29 retail theft incident in which over $300 in perfume and cologne was stolen from the Willowbrook Ulta.

Pitre Romero was later arrested at an Ulta store in Tinley Park and taken into custody.

“It is alleged that while on pre-trial release for a previous felony retail theft, Mr. Pitre Romero repeatedly thumbed his nose at the criminal justice system committing crime after crime,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

He added, “In DuPage County we have zero tolerance for the type of behavior alleged in this case. The new charges against Mr. Pitre Romero, who was previously granted pre-trial release, illustrate the need for changes to the State’s Safe-T-Act to give judges more discretion at First Appearance Court. Too often, we are seeing repeat offenders released pre-trial because the Act does not allow judges to use their discretion for certain offenses. As I have consistently stated since the inception of the Safe-T-Act, judges, not the legislature, are in the best position to decide whether a defendant in any particular case should be detained pre-trial."