BLOOMINGDALE, Ill. — A Chicago couple was arrested Friday after stealing electronics from a suburban Best Buy and leading police on a high-speed chase that ended in a crash and their capture inside a grocery store.
Autumn Provine, 21, appeared in court Saturday, facing a Class 4 felony charge of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer, along with 19 misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses. Her charges include attempting to leave the scene of an accident causing injury, improper lane usage, and unsafe tires, according to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Her co-defendant, Frank Cerda, 30, was charged with retail theft, a Class 3 felony, after the two allegedly stole $621.97 worth of items from the Best Buy store in Bloomingdale.
Prosecutors said Cerda took a Shark hair dryer, two Polaroid cameras, and film from the store and got into the passenger side of a black Lexus RX300 driven by Provine. Police attempted a traffic stop when the vehicle was spotted on Army Trail Road near Gladstone Drive. Provine fled at speeds up to 55 mph in a 25-mph zone.
Officers deployed a spike strip, deflating one of the Lexus’s rear tires, but Provine continued southbound on Glen Ellyn Road. Police eventually called off the pursuit, but six minutes later, Glen Ellyn police spotted the vehicle again and attempted another stop, which was unsuccessful.
At 6:33 p.m., the Lexus was involved in a three-vehicle crash at Main Street and Roosevelt Road. One person was taken to the hospital, though their condition was not immediately known.
Authorities said Provine and Cerda fled on foot and entered a nearby Jewel-Osco grocery store, where they were found in separate bathrooms and arrested.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin praised the joint efforts of law enforcement agencies. “This apprehension sends a strong message that if you flee from the police in DuPage County, you will be caught, charged, and prosecuted,” he said.
Bloomingdale Director of Public Safety Frank Giammarese also commended the teamwork of law enforcement, adding, “This is a great example of multiple agencies working together to apprehend alleged criminals.”
Provine will remain in custody until her next court appearance. Cerda was released on the condition that he avoid all Best Buy stores.
