COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A 54-year-old man who swiped $220 in cash from a woman's purse at Union Station got busted when he returned to the depot wearing the woman's hat, which he also stole, prosecutors said.
The man snatched the cash, ran across several tracks and hopped a Metra train out of town Monday evening, prosecutors said.
One problem: He took the train back to Chicago two hours later, was recognized and arrested, Assistant State's Attorney Lorraine Scaduto said during a bond hearing Tuesday.
William Holt, 54, is charged with theft, trespassing on state land (railroad tracks) and possession of drug paraphernalia after police arrested him carrying a crack pipe and stolen goods about 7:50 p.m. Monday, court records show.
According to prosecutors, Holt stole $220 cash from the purse of a 69-year-old Amtrak employee at Union Station, 225 S. Canal St., on Monday afternoon.
He also swiped the woman's lunch bag, which contained her hat, Scaduto said.
The victim, who saw Holt run across several tracks and jump on a Metra train to Brookfield, reported the incident to Amtrak police about 5:50 p.m., Scaduto said.
An officer noticed Holt two hours later, about 7:50 p.m., because he matched the description of the alleged thief, according to a police report. When Amtrak police stopped Holt, he was carrying $220 cash and wearing the victim's hat, Scaduto said.
Security footage corroborates the victim's story, prosecutors said.
On Tuesday, Cook County Judge James Brown ordered Holt, who lives in Champaign, held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
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