The Elmhurst police officer arrest two men accused of distracting a senior citizen in a grocery store parking lot, stealing her wallets from her car, and then attempting to purchase more than $6,000 worth of Apple products.
Elmhurst police officers responded about 1:30 p.m. March 3, 2025 to a report of a burglary to motor vehicle that had just occurred in the parking lot of Whole Foods, 215 South Illinois Route 83. Upon arrival, police officers spoke to a 76-year-old Elmhurst woman who explained that her two wallets were stolen from her purse in her car.
The victim said a male suspect approached her, asking her to check the back of her car as it was damaged. The victim exited her car and spoke to the man near her rear bumper. Two witnesses reported seeing a second male suspect open the victim’s front passenger door and take something from inside her car while the victim was being distracted. The witnesses reported seeing the two men leave in a gray Honda Odyssey onto Illinois Route 83, displaying a temporary New Jersey registration plate. The victim reported two wallets were stolen from her purse in the car, containing cash and her credit cards.
Elmhurst Police detectives then received automated license plate reader camera alerts that the suspect’s vehicle was detected driving south on Illinois Route 83, and eventually was detected pulling into Oakbrook Center Mall. Detectives from Elmhurst, Oakbrook, and Villa Park located the Honda in the mall parking lot, occupied by only the driver. During surveillance, the driver was observed discarding the victim’s wallets in a mall dumpster. The driver then picked up the passenger as he exited the mall on foot. At 2:22 p.m. the driver of the Honda pulled into another mall parking space and detectives approached the suspects as they walked away from the car. One of the suspects complied and was arrested, but the second suspect ran and was apprehended after a short foot chase by an Elmhurst detective. The Honda minivan displayed a fictitious New Jersey temporary registration plate. Both suspects were taken to the Elmhurst Police Department.
Further investigation determined the passenger used the victim’s stolen credit card at the Apple Store in Oakbrook Center Mall, and attempted to purchase two iPhone 16 Pro Max phones and a MacBook M4 Pro computer, having a total value in excess of $6,000. The transaction was declined at the register, as the credit card had been canceled by the victim.
In consultation with the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office …
suspect Petrica Valerian Balan, age 24, of the 2000 block of North Shire Lane, Bowie, Maryland was charged with Burglary to Motor Vehicle, Aggravated Identity Theft of a Senior Citizen, Obstructing a Peace Officer, and Improper Use of Registration; and
suspect Marcus Bebino, age 22, of the 700 block of Chicago Ave., Downers Grove, Illinois was charged with Burglary to Motor Vehicle, Aggravated Identity Theft of a Senior Citizen, and Obstructing Identification. Both men were transported to the DuPage County Jail for first appearance court.
“The allegations that these two men conspired to distract a senior citizen and steal her wallet from inside her car are appalling. Seniors should feel safe when out shopping and I wish to thank the two witnesses that saw this suspicious activity and recorded the suspect’s description and license plate. I am also thankful for the excellent teamwork demonstrated by detectives from the Elmhurst, Oakbrook and the Villa Park Police Departments that led to the swift arrest of the suspects in this case.”
— Chief Chief Michael McLean
Members of the public are reminded that defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
— Elmhurst Police Department
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