Undocumented Immigrant Allegedly Shoplifting Was Found To Have A Glock With A Switch In Car
On April 19, 2025, the Hammond Police Department was dispatched for a shoplifting call at Home Depot in the 1600 block of 165th. The dispatch call was for two male subjects shoplifting inside the store. The store employee reported that 2 males subjects stole a Milwaukee Brand knife and other items. The store employee also reported that the 2 males subjects exited the store and were seen entering a white Yukon in the parking lot.
According to court documents, the first officer to arrive located a white Chevrolet Tahoe, bearing an Illinois plate number, that was occupied by 2 Hispanic males matching the suspects’ description. The vehicle was backing out of a parking spot and then headed east out of the parking lot. The officers began following the white Tahoe, which quickly turned into the parking lot of the Oreilly’s Auto Parts store and then stopped in a parking space. One of the officers noted that the male in the front passenger seat, later identified as Cristian Humberto Sarabia-Viilanueva, quickly exited the vehicle and began walking towards the rear of the vehicle with his hands tucked into his jacket. The officer gave verbal commands to Sarabia-Villanueva, who ignored the officer’s commands and began walking back towards the front passenger seat of the Tahoe. Sarabia-Villanueva continued to ignore the commands to stop, and got back into the passenger seat of the Tahoe.
According to court documents, the officer approached the front passenger door and observed Sarabia-Villanueva reaching towards the floorboard. The officer then opened the front passenger door and removed Sarabia-Villanueva from the vehicle. The officer performed a pat down frisk to check for the stolen knife mentioned by the store employee or any other weapons. Sarabia-Villanueva was handcuffed and advised of the reason for being detained.
According to court documents, the officer noted that the suspect only spoke Spanish and was unable to speak any English. The officer requested a Spanish speaking officer to respond to their location to translate. An officer began to search the Tahoe to try and locate any other stolen merchandise. The officer looked under the front passenger seat and observed a black Glock semi-automatic handgun with a switch attached to the slide back, making it capable of firing as a fully automatic machine gun.
The officer that arrived to translate noted the male identified himself as 18 year old, Cristian Sarabia-Villanueva, with a date of birth of August 2006, and informed the officer that he was from Mexico and does not have any identification.
According to court documents, a Special Agent from Homeland Security fingerprinted and confirmed the identity of Sarabria-Villanueva. The Special Agent discovered documents from Mexico proving his residency there. It was also noted that the Homeland Security Agent did not find any records of Sarabria-Villanueva traveling into the United States legally, that he is undocumented, and that he is here in the United States unlawfully and illegally.
Sarabia-Villanueva is currently lodged in the Lake County Jail. Cristian Humberto Sarabia-Villanueva was charged with:
Possession of a Machine Gun: F5 Felony
Possession of Altered Firearm: F5 Felony
Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun: Class A Misdemeanor
