Illinois
New Illinois association brings together businesses, police to fight organized retail theft
CHICAGO (CBS) — In a brand-new tactic to fight organized retail theft, a group is forming across the state of Illinois to bring together business owners and police.
From smash-and-grabs to large-group thefts—visuals with which we’ve become all too familiar—organized retail crime has been a major hit to businesses big and across the area.
Criminal groups that commit the retail thefts seek to resell the items to fund activities such as illegal gun purchases, human trafficking, and even terrorism, experts say.
High-profile retail districts such as the Magnificent Mile have been pummeled by thieves over recent years, but it is not just the main shopping corridors that are affected.
Illinois retailers are estimated to lose more than $2 billion in goods to retail thefts every year—impacting everything from the ability to hire new employees to expanding and maintaining business.
Further, such thefts affect not only the businesses themselves, but the city’s tax base—and ultimately everyone.
“So goes retail, So goes our local government services and state services,” said Rob Karr, president and chief executive officer of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association.
The new Illinois Organized Retail Crime Association is the latest measure to try to stop those hits from coming.
“In short, what it is, is an organization that brings together law enforcement, asset protection professionals, and others involved in combatting organized retail crime—including state and federal law enforcement agencies,” said Rob Karr, president and chief executive officer of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association.
Karr said the new association will streamline coordination between everyone involved—acting as a connector for businesses big and small, loss prevention specialists, and law enforcement, with the idea that the more people are connected, the quicker the crooks will be caught.
“We are really hopeful to have this great coming together that doesn’t exist today in a cohesive manner,” Karr said.
Using a shared platform, the Illinois Organized Retail Crime Association will allow groups across jurisdictions to share information and warnings, build cases, and ultimately prevent crime.
Dave Garfield, a family business owner with locations in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, has seen his fair share of such crime.
“It takes a big toll,” Garfield said.
He said one of his Garfield’s Beverage Warehouse stores had $300,000 worth of damage in a recent theft, and coming back from it is “overwhelming.” Just recently, one of his stores had a store hit more than once.
Garfield said he is happy to be part of the brand-new retail crime association, because the intel would’ve helped in that case.
“We were hit twice in a month, and it was the same crew,” said Garfield, “so I think if the first time, we would have had something like this, we would have been able to communicate with other people—and hopefully prepared ourselves to not happen again.”
The Illinois Organized Retail Crime Association kicks off Monday. Anne Sagins, who has 30 years of public service with the Illinois Senate Republicans Caucus, will serve as executive director.
SERENA, Ill. – An 8-year-old girl has died after she was struck by lightning while outside in the backyard of her home in LaSalle County over the Fourth of July weekend.
Girl killed by lightning strike
What we know:
The LaSalle County Coroner’s office said it was called to emergency department at OSF St. Elizabeth Hospital in Ottawa on the evening of July 3 after the child was brought in following the lightning strike.
A forensic autopsy was conducted on Sunday. Preliminary findings determined the girl died from injuries caused by the lightning strike.
What we don’t know:
Officials have not yet released the child’s identity.
The incident remains under investigation by the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office and the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office.
The Source: The information in this report came from the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office.
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. – We’re learning more about the victims in Friday’s tragedy on Geneva Lake.
Three kids, ages 10, seven, and six, were killed after they were trapped in the sinking boat during the severe storms.
Officials won’t comment on their identities, but FOX6 learned at least two of them were students at the Community Unit School District 200 (CUSD 200) in Wheaton, Illinois.
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The district released a statement, saying:
“On behalf of Community Unit School District 200, our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the children who died in a tragic boating incident in Lake Geneva on July 3. We ask that you join us in supporting these families during this difficult time, and keep them in your thoughts as we all cope with this incredible loss.”
Lake Geneva Police Chief statement
What we know:
The City of Lake Geneva Police Department is opening up on the incident and the property destruction caused by the storms.
The police chief says, in part:
“In moments of tragedy, we often see the very best in people, and that has certainly been true here. While there is still healing ahead, I hope everyone knows how grateful we are for the outpouring of support shown over these past several days. It has been humbling to witness and a reminder that no one faces hardship alone when a community stands together.”
–Chief Ed Gritzner, City of Lake Geneva Police Department
The backstory:
Walworth County experienced what law enforcement described as a “sudden and severe” storm on July 3. The National Weather Service said it created a downburst with peak winds estimated at 90–100 mph.
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The storm downed hundreds of trees and power lines, damaged several buildings and created hazardous boating conditions on Geneva Lake. One boat with 10 people on board overturned and ultimately sank.
Six adults and one child were rescued from the water, while three of the kids were missing when emergency responders got there. Those three children were found and later died despite life-saving attempts.
Emergency response on Geneva Lake after storms lead to calls for water rescue on July 3, 2026.
Who was on the boat?
The latest:
The three children who died have been identified as a 10-year-old girl, a 7-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy.
The boat operator was a 47-year-old man. The other passengers were a 75-year-old man, a 73-year-old woman, a 49-year-old woman, a 46-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy.
The group included residents of Fontana, as well as residents of Batavia and Wheaton, Illinois. All four kids were wearing properly fitted life jackets, according to law enforcement.
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What happened on Geneva Lake?
Dig deeper:
Law enforcement said the boat operator had “extensive boating experience” and was unable to find safe harbor when the storm hit. At least two large waves broke over the bow, causing it to take on water. Another wave hit the side of the boat, causing it to roll, capsize and sink.
The sunken vessel was found in 32 feet of water, and three children were found inside the boat. Divers were able to get them out and bring them to the surface, and they were pronounced dead despite life-saving attempts. Investigators determined they had no external injuries and drowned.
What’s next:
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency are still conducting a joint investigation into the accident. Eleven other agencies assisted with the immediate needs.
The Source: Information in this post comes from the City of Lake Geneva Police Department and Community Unit School District 200 (CUSD 200), along with prior
Two people were shot, and one of them died, in an apartment in the north Chicago suburb of Mundelein on Tuesday morning.
At 11:40 am., Mundelein police were called to a building in the 500 block of Deepwoods Drive following the shooting.
They found two victims who had been shot. A woman was taken to an area hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, while a man died at the hospital, according to the Lake County sheriff’s office.
Mundelein police obtained a description of a suspect vehicle and broadcast it to other law enforcement agencies. Illinois State Police traced a car all the way to the Illinois-Indiana state line, where they pulled over the car and took a man and woman into custody.
Police believe the shooting was targeted and domestic in nature, the sheriff’s office said.
The Lake County Major Crimes Task Force and Mundelein police continued to investigate Tuesday afternoon.
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