Off-Duty Cop Stops Woman From Fleeing with Stolen Goods

Suzana Hurem, 40, of Niles was charged with retail theft and battery, and Selma Hurem, 21, of Niles was charged with retail theft, resisting a peace officer and battery after someone called police Nov. 7 saying a man and women were struggling near a car parked outside Golf Mill Shopping Center. 

When police arrived, the man identified himself as an off-duty police officer, and that a loss prevention employee from a department store had tried to stop the two women, who are mother and daughter, after they exited the store without paying for merchandise. They began to struggle with her, pushing and shoving her, the employee said. At that point the off-duty police officer approached, he said, and told them to quiet down and wait for the police. 

However, the daughter ran to her vehicle and put merchandise in the back seat. The off-duty cop grabbed her car keys from her so she couldn't drive away. The loss prevention agent was able to obtain the mother's purse, which contained store merchandise.  She said the offenders and the officer were in the parking lot yelling when Niles police arrived.

At that point, Niles police told the mother and daughter they were under arrest, and the daughter pulled away and struggled when he tried to handcuff her. The mother did not resist.

The loss prevention employee said she had seen the two women take merchandise into the fitting rooms, and after they left, she discovered they had removed tags from several clothing items and place them inside a pair of pants. 

The daughter began to yell and scream inside the squad car, then started to cough and spit, saying she couldn't breathe. She began to kick at the side window, saying she needed an ambulance, which police called. She was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, admitted to the emergency room, treated for anxiety and discharged.  

After both women were booked at the Niles Police Station, police found more of the store's merchandise after they searched their vehicle. They were released on bond. The daughter had taken $203 worth of merchandise, and the mother had taken $399 worth, all clothing.