Villa Park police were monitoring a motel in the area when they observed Beyene leaving and entering a taxi. Officers stopped the taxi and arrested him.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin explained, “Mr. Beyene is accused of stealing lottery tickets from several convenience stores across the Chicagoland region over the past few months. In one incident, it’s alleged that he befriended a store clerk, then stole lottery tickets while the clerk was briefly away in the back cooler. This continuous victimization of retail businesses will not be tolerated in DuPage County. I extend my gratitude to the Elmhurst Police Department, as well as other local and county agencies, for their help. I also thank the Villa Park Police Department and the Illinois Lottery authorities for their roles in identifying and arresting Beyene. Thanks to these coordinated efforts, we have put an end to his alleged crime spree. I also commend Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Nielsen for her work on the case.”
Beyene is scheduled for a court appearance on January 27.