According to officials, during Lollapalooza, undercover Chicago police officers intervened to rescue a Florida man from an angry crowd. Upon searching the man’s clothing, they discovered that he had 12 stolen phones concealed on his person.
According to a report by the CPD, on August 1, around 5 p.m., undercover cops observed Jose Daniel Payo Perez, a 29-year-old resident of Miami, walking in an uncommon manner and sporting a torn shirt while on the festival grounds at Grant Park.
According to the report, a group of individuals observed him until they confronted him with the accusation of having the phones.
The officers were worried about the safety of Payo Perez, prompting them to leave their cover and apprehend him. According to the report, Payo Perez had several bulges in his clothing, which led to his detention. During a pat-down search, the officers discovered a significant number of phones on his person.
The officers found 12 phones, according to an inventory report from the Chicago police. The owners of six of these phones were successfully identified.
According to reports, Payo Perez has been accused of committing six counts of theft of lost or mislaid property and trespassing due to his alleged absence of a Lollapalooza wristband. The arrest report noted that he is presently on probation in Florida, without specifying the details of his previous conviction in the state.
Payo Perez has been released pending trial by Judge William Fahy.
Since 2019, organized theft crews, often composed of individuals from out of state, have specifically targeted major events such as Lollapalooza and Pride Fest. These groups tend to focus on densely populated areas such as dance floors and crowded bars where they can easily blend in and take advantage of victims who may not be immediately aware of any bumping or touching.
Over the weekend, a man from Texas was charged with the theft of phones at Lollapalooza.
Around 6:45 p.m. on Sunday, undercover Chicago police officers arrested Luis Marin-Vega, a 39-year-old resident of San Antonio.
According to the authorities, Marin-Vega resisted their questioning by pushing them, flailing his arms, and biting one of the officers on the hand. It is alleged that he also attempted to bite the second officer. The officers were trying to inquire about the phone thefts when the incident occurred.
The police reportedly discovered three stolen iPhones in his backpack after he was apprehended.
The defendant faces serious charges, including two counts of aggravated battery of a peace officer, two counts of aggravated assault of a peace officer, assault, and three counts of theft of lost or mislaid property.
Shauna Boliker, the judge, granted him release while he awaited trial.
For consecutive years, authorities have apprehended groups of phone thieves during the Lollapalooza music festival. However, prosecutors eventually dismissed the majority of these cases.
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