OAK BROOK TERRACE, IL — Amid heightened concerns over retail theft, Timothy Wehmeyer, a 42-year-old from Chicago, has been denied pre-trial release following allegations of using a reported fraudulent receipt to take nearly $2,000 worth of flooring from an Oak Brook Home Depot.
The decision comes after Judge Joshua Dieden, spotlighting Wehmeyer’s past failures to appear in court and an outstanding warrant in Crown Point, deemed him a serious flight risk.
The November 7 accusation, which involved the attempted theft of 25 cases of flooring, has underscored the growing challenge of retail theft for law enforcement. DuPage County’s legal and police officials are sending a clear message of zero tolerance as retail losses soar nationally.
Wehmeyer’s case, set for a November 21 arraignment, exemplifies the rigorous enforcement measures now in place as the holiday season approaches.