Crime & Safety

Two Men Driving a Pickup Loaded with Stolen Goods Arrested for Theft

The pair, both from Plainfield, are accused of stealing items from the grounds of the closed Rizzi's Flower Garden and Aquatic Center.

Two men who packed their pickup truck with so many stolen items that the backend almost touched the ground were arrested on charges of theft early Wednesday morning.

spotted the truck driven by Keith J. Wells, 21, and Nicholas Eugene Davito, 18, near the Fraser Road entrance to the , 16202 S. Route 59, Sgt. Mike Fisher said.

That the truck was dragging so low to the ground and the driver was near a closed business raised the suspicions of the patrol officers who stopped them at about 12:25 a.m., Fish said.

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The pair had loaded up their black Chevy S-10 with items from the grounds of landscaping business, including two portable heaters, an air-conditioning unit, steel wheels off of vehicles and other steel items that could be sold for scrap, Fisher said. The on-site buildings had not been entered.

Fisher did not know the dollar amount of the items stolen other than it was in excess of $300, meaning Wells, 24125 W. Joseph Ave., and Davito, 24205 W. Hazelcrest, face felony charges.

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Rizzi's, a seasonal business, has been closed since spring 2011. It's not known whether the owner is continuing to to do private landscaping work from the location.

However, many landscaping items remain outside on the grounds, making it a potential lure for thieves, Fisher said.

"I'm kind of surprised more (items) haven't been stolen," he said.

Wells and Davito are being held at the Will County jail pending a Thursday bond hearing.


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