Man Arrested In Niles For Stealing, Selling Chainsaws
NILES, Ill. (CBS) -- A north suburban man has been arrested for allegedly stealing and selling chainsaws.
WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports 34-year-old Ali Ivanov has been charged with felony theft. Niles police allege he worked with at least one other man and a couple women to lift expensive chainsaws from power tool stores in Michigan and Wisconsin.
Police said, in most cases, the older woman among them would slip an expensive Stihl brand chainsaw between her legs, hidden under a long dress, and then walk out with it.
Ivanov allegedly sold the chainsaws on Craigslist. A local pawnshop allegedly bought six of them from Ivanov
Niles police said the 12 stolen chainsaws they recovered had a combined retail value of more than $12,000.
Ivanov's mother was picked up by police when they arrested him, but she was released without charges. However, police in Michigan and Wisconsin were still investigating the thefts.
