Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Chile! A HUGE shoe collection led to a man’s recent arrest in Cook County, Chicago. Prosecutors accuse Erick Lujano Bautista of storing about $1 million of Nike and New Balance shoes.
According to Fox 32 Chicago, police suspect the products were stolen. Organized Retail Crime (ORC) investigators connected Bautista to the case after learning he was the sublease holder in the warehouse where the shoes were placed. The shoes first came to light on Janaury 31. On that day, officials executed a search warrant for the space on the 1500 block of South Western Avenue and arrested Erick the next day.
Additionally, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Lujano Bautista is not an authorized Nike or New Balance seller. Questions remain about the shoes’ origin and the warehouse’s length of activity.
Meanwhile, Erick Lujano Bautista reportedly appeared in court for the first time on Sunday (February 2), one day after his arrest. Despite the large merchandise, he was free pending other court proceedings. He faces a felony theft charge.
For context, Cook County’s ORC unit launched in 2023. In 2024, the crew reportedly recovered over $3.6 million in stolen products. However, the recovery of Nike and New Balance goods has brought that total to $4.5 million in the last nine months.
By the way, stolen shoes aren’t an issue that only impacts the Chicago area. Back in October, Washington D.C. police issued warnings to residents about robbers targeting their feet! Rather than Nike and New Balance, thieves were aiming for designer brands such as Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton.
