Illinois quick hits: Theft ring busted; Illinoisans working from home

Theft ring busted

An investigation in Cook County has led to the bust of a large-scale retail theft operation.

The Cook County sheriff announced Thursday that approximately $2.4 million in suspected stolen merchandise was recovered in the operation last week. The recovered merchandise included Nike Air Jordan shoes to commemorate the Paris Olympics that had not been made available to the public yet.

Some of the items were believed to be stolen from Chicago area stores, and other items may have been stolen from trains.

Illinoisans working from home

Researchers from the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois report that just over 19% of Illinois workers said they worked primarily from home in 2021. In 2019, it was 5.5%.

According to the research, northeastern Illinois counties and McLean County experienced the greatest percentage increases in working from home. Among counties that recorded increases in working from home, those with the smallest shift included Kankakee, LaSalle, Macon and Rock Island.

Champaign emu captured

After nearly two years on the run, a legendary Central Illinois emu has been captured and returned home. The emu was part of a mob of emus that escaped in July 2022 after someone intentionally opened the gates at a farm.

Over the past two years, the emu has gained a cult-like following with people routinely spotting the creature in the area of Champaign County. The emu was captured after food and water was set inside a pen.