County charges filed against three arrested by Riverwoods

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• Riverwoods charges three with burglary

Updated: March 17, 2012 8:16AM

The Lake County Sheriff has pressed additional criminal charges against three people arrested by Riverwoods police for allegedly stealing from customers at Panera a few weeks ago.

Riverwoods police on Tuesday had charged the trio with felony burglary, alleging they took wallets from patrons at Panera Bread and later used stolen credit cards at local businesses.

Wallets were removed from customer’s purses Jan. 28 and Feb. 2 while people were eating at 2001 Milwaukee Ave., Riverwoods Police Chief Bruce Dayno said.

Lake County Sheriff’s police noted Thursday that offenders matching the descriptions of the Riverwoods trio entered the Panera Bread Company, as well as the Noodles and Company, in Deer Park, allegedly to take wallets from purses that were hung over seats while their owners ate.

Sheriff’s investigators viewed video from the stores to identify potential suspects after learning similar incidents had occurred in Riverwoods and that police there had picked up three suspects.

Before bond court on the Riverwoods charges, the Lake County investigators said they interviewed the three and identified them as the same people on video in Deer Park.

The three allegedly took credit cards from victims’ wallets and used them to purchase gift cards at the Target on Dundee Road in Palatine, detectives said.

The Lake County Sheriff charged all three with the unlawful use of a credit card, a felony.

On Tuesday, Riverwoods police charged Michelle L. Johnson, 27, of 6308 S. Maplewood St., Chicago, with two counts of felony burglary and two counts of felony using forged credit/debit cards, Dayno said.

Rickey Anderson, 45, of 9132 S. Blackstone, Chicago, was charged with two counts of felony burglary, two counts of felony using forged credit/debit cards.

And Marva D. Karikari, 40, of 8421 Captons Lane, Darien, was charged with two counts of felony burglary, two counts of felony using forged credit/debit cards and possession of marijuana, Dayno added.

Judge Raymond Collins today set a $50,000 bond for Anderson, and $25,000 bonds for both Johnson and Karikari.

Panera employees in Riverwoods had contacted police after recognizing people in the restaurant who they thought could have been involved with the crimes, Dayno said.

The employees described one suspect’s car, which was stopped by Vernon Hills police officers just minutes after the information was broadcast, he added.

All three were transported to the Riverwoods Police Station, where they were questioned by detectives from Riverwoods, as well as Libertyville, where similar crimes have allegedly been committed.

“Cooperation and information sharing among local law enforcement is crucial to combating criminal cases like this one,” Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran said.