COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A 66-year-old man accused of trying to steal $23,000 worth of jewelry from a Gold Coast shop might have been trying to hide in plain sight when he sat down at the store manager's desk, authorities said
Cleveland Little, of the 4800 block of South Cottage Grove, then emptied the contents of a jewelry box that was on the desk at Geneva Seal, 112 E. Oak St., into his umbrella, prosecutors said.
Little was charged with theft after prosecutors said he knowingly walked out of the jewelry store with 23 pieces jewelry valued at $23,050 on Wednesday afternoon.
A security guard watched Little enter the store and proceed to its second floor, a police report states. He perused the glittering accessories inside a few of the glass cases there, the report said.
He then sat down at the store manager's desk in the rear of the store and opened a jewelry box sitting on the desk, the report said. He then placed its contents inside his folded up umbrella, the report said.
He walked back down the stairs, but before leaving the store he transferred the jewels to a satchel, police said.
When he left Geneva Seal, he was immediately confronted by a security guard, according to police.
A Cook County judge ordered Cleveland placed on electronic monitoring at a hearing Thursday.
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