Elmhurst police officers arrested Petrica Valerian Balan, 24, of Bowie, Maryland, and Marcus Bebino, 22, of Downers Grove, Illinois, for allegedly distracting a 76-year-old woman in a grocery store parking lot, stealing her wallets, and attempting to use her credit card to buy over $6,000 in Apple products.
Incident Details
The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on March 3, 2025, in the Whole Foods parking lot at 215 South Illinois Route 83. The victim reported that a man approached her, claiming her car had been damaged. As she stepped out to check, a second suspect opened her passenger door and stole two wallets from her purse.
Two witnesses saw the suspects fleeing in a gray Honda Odyssey with a temporary New Jersey plate.
Police Response and Arrests
Elmhurst detectives used license plate reader technology to track the suspect’s vehicle to Oakbrook Center Mall. Detectives from Elmhurst, Oakbrook, and Villa Park located the Honda and observed the driver disposing of the victim’s wallets in a dumpster.
While monitoring the suspects, police saw one enter the Apple Store, attempting to use the stolen credit card to purchase two iPhone 16 Pro Max devices and a MacBook M4 Pro, totaling over $6,000. The purchase was declined as the victim had already canceled the card.
At 2:22 p.m., detectives approached the suspects in the parking lot. One man complied and was arrested immediately, while the second fled on foot but was quickly caught by an Elmhurst detective.
Charges Filed
After consulting with the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, the following charges were filed:
Petrica Valerian Balan, 24, of Bowie, Maryland
Burglary to a Motor Vehicle
Aggravated Identity Theft of a Senior Citizen
Obstructing a Peace Officer
Improper Use of Registration
Marcus Bebino, 22, of Downers Grove, Illinois
Burglary to a Motor Vehicle
Aggravated Identity Theft of a Senior Citizen
Obstructing Identification
Both suspects were transported to the DuPage County Jail for a court appearance.
Police Statement
Elmhurst Police Chief Michael McLean praised the teamwork of detectives and the vigilance of witnesses:
“The allegations that these two men conspired to distract a senior citizen and steal her wallet from inside her car are appalling. Seniors should feel safe when out shopping. I want to thank the two witnesses who saw this suspicious activity and recorded the suspect’s description and license plate. I also appreciate the excellent teamwork demonstrated by detectives from Elmhurst, Oakbrook, and Villa Park that led to the swift arrest of the suspects.”
The Elmhurst Police Department reminds the public that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
