Police seek suspects who started store fires as distraction to steal electronics
Photos obtained from surveillance cameras at Walmart showing two men suspected of shoplifting by using fires as a distraction. (Lansing Fire Department)
LANSING, Ill. - Police in the south suburbs and Northwest Indiana are looking for two people wanted for setting fires at retail stores and using it as a distraction to steal electronics.
Two men intentionally set fires at a Walmart in Lansing on Friday to distract employees while they stole electronics from the store, police said.
The men were seen driving away in a silver Volvo XC90, police said.
At about 9:10 p.m. Monday, Highland (Ind.) Police and Fire departments were dispatched to the Meijer store located at 10138 Indianapolis Blvd. for a report of a fire.
Police said this silver Volvo XC90 was used by shoplifters at a Walmart in Lansing on Friday. (Lansing Fire Department)
Upon arrival, officers were informed by Meijer employees that three small fires appeared to have been deliberately set in three different locations in the store.
The fires were already extinguished prior to police and fire officials arriving, authorities said.
Police said Thursday they believe the two shoplifting incidents were connected and involved the same suspects.
If you have any information, you are asked to contact Detective Darren Conley from the Highland Police Department at 219-838-3184 or Detective Miklusak from the Lansing Police Department (708) 895-7150.