Man Stole Keys From Lot Where He Bought Car, Later Crashed It: PD

Oak Forest IL

09 March, 2022

4:37 PM

Description

OAK FOREST, IL — A 59-year-old Oak Forest man was arrested after police said he stole three sets of car keys in Mokena, crashed a brand new car in Tinley Park and then fled to his Oak Forest home last week. Police said Garth Whalen purchased a car at the B&M Auto Sales lot in Mokena last Tuesday. While he was buying the car, officials said Whalen stole three sets of car keys which belonged to vehicles parked in the same Auto Sales lot. The stolen keys were not discovered, however, until the car Whalen bought earlier that day was involved in a traffic crash in Tinley Park. Officers said Whalen left the scene and when the damaged car was towed back to the Mokena lot police found the keys inside a jacket pocket left inside the new car. Oak Forest police said Whalen was arrested at his home on the 15800 block of Terrace Drive later that night on March 3.