Man seen stealing package from Beverly porch with child in tow, police say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Police are searching for a man who was seen on surveillance video stealing a package from a porch on Chicago's South Side - with a young child in tow.

The couple they stole from lives have grandchildren of their own and they agreed to share the video because they're worried about the little girl's well-being.

"I felt like it's corrupting her mind at a very young age, and it broke my heart. I hated to see that," said Esther Brown, victim.

Esther and Ray Brown's security camera captured the theft of a Federal Express package from their porch in the Beverly neighborhood around 4:09 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29.

The little girl in the footage has a backpack and may have just finished school.

"I think at one point they were rethinking what they wanted to do. Was it worth it? Was anybody going to really say anything? And at the end they figured, let's just do it," said Ray Brown.

The suspect is described as a black man with a slight goatee, police said. He was wearing a grey jacket with a black stripe on the back. The little girl is wearing a grey jacket and backpack, police said. He walks up to the package holding the child's hand, but it's not a clean getaway. He fumbles and drops the packages. The girl tries to help and then leaps off the steps like it's a playground.

"The child thought it was a game, and it's not. It's a serious matter that they did," Esther said.

With packages in hand, the man and girl leave in a vehicle - a small station wagon or SUV, police said - driven by someone else.

"I'd love to have a word with him. I'd love to have a word with the mom to say, 'Do you know who has your child and what they're doing with your child?' Because this is inexcusable," Esther said.

So what did they end up stealing? The packages contained hair products and a replacement part for a toilet. Hardly worth it.

Police are urging residents to have their packages left in a hidden location or request a signature at delivery.

Anyone with information about this incident should contact Area South detectives at (312) 747-8273.