Police: Chicago Man Charged With Theft in Mokena Scrap Heist

While on a quest for scrap metal in Mokena, one man instead collected a handful of felony charges this month.

David B. Nicholas, 25, of Chicago, arrived at Calumet Screw, 19600 S. 97th Ave., on Sept. 13 at about 1 p.m. and told employees to load up his truck with scrap metal, according to police.

Instead, they called .

Officers told Nicholas to stay by the squad car as they looked into the situation, but Nicholas kept trying to walk away, police said. During a struggle, Nicholas was told to sit, according to the report. Calumet Screw did not press theft charges, police said, but police arrested him on a resisting arrest charge and he was released on bond.

Later that same day, officers were called to the 18800 block of Old LaGrange Road at 4:15 p.m. regarding a suspicious vehicle driving recklessly, according to the report.

Police found Nicholas again. During questioning, he told police he was looking for scrap material at Ozinga Concrete, but was denied by an employee, according to police.

Officers received information that Nicholas had attempted to steal a vehicle rim and struck the side of Ozinga Concrete, 18825 Old LaGrange Rd., police said. Nicholas then backed into the building but claimed he did not cause any damage, according to the report.

Nicholas was previously , police said. A supplemental report stated Nicholas had taken several truck rims and radiators at that time, and he had hit a retaining wall near the business.

As an officer was attempting to arrest Nicholas, he again attempted to get away.

Nicholas, of the 2900 block of North Elston Avenue in Chicago, was charged with felony theft, criminal trespassing, resisting a peace officer and felony violation of a bail bond. He was cited for driving on a suspended license, operating an uninsured vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident, police said. He was taken to the Will County jail.