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COOK COUNTY - A Crestwood man has been charged with stealing a cheerleading coach’s backpack during a high school cheerleading competition last month, Oak Forest police said.
Oak Forest school theft
What we know:
Michael Witowski, 48, was charged Wednesday with one felony count of theft from a school, according to the Oak Forest Police Department.
The charge stems from an incident on Jan. 19, when Witowski was allegedly caught on security cameras entering Oak Forest High School, walking into a classroom where a visiting cheerleading coach had placed her belongings, and then leaving with what appeared to be her backpack.
The theft occurred during the annual Bengal Challenge cheerleading competition.
Police said Witowski was later identified with help from school administrators and social media posts. He was taken into custody without incident.
Michael Witowski
What they're saying:
Oak Forest Police Chief Scott Durano credited community efforts in helping solve the case.
"We thank the Oak Forest community and the high school for their assistance in this investigation," Durano said. "It is through this sort of community effort that we can keep one another safe, and successfully investigate incidents like this one."
What we don't know:
Authorities did not disclose whether the stolen backpack was recovered.
The Source: The information in this article was provided by the Oak Forest Police Department.