Illinois Man Arrested In Fully Equipped Police Truck Comprised of Stolen Equipment
On August 18, 2024 at approximately 1:15 AM, a Winfield Police Detective stopped a SUV which looked like an outfitted police truck for excessive speeds on Route 30, according to court records.
When the officer ran the Texas license plate it came back to an individual instead of an agency or business. Officers approached the vehicle and a female was driving. The driver stated the vehicle belonged to the male passenger now identified as Zachary Luker, of Roscoe, IL. When officers asked why the vehicle was outfitted like a police car, Luker stated it was a demo car for an outfitting company. The officer knew demo cars are registered to the company and not an individual.
The vehicle was equipped with radar, on board cameras, computer, police radios, outside lights, and other police equipment that was functional. A German Shepard was also in the kennel in the backseat. Also found inside the car was an Illinois State Police gas fleet card. Officers continued searching and also located multiple sets of Ford fleet keys, portable radios labeled ISP, police duty belt, handcuffs, and Toughbook laptop belonging to ISP.
When questioned later Luker stated he knew the ISP gas card was stolen along with other equipment but was unsure where they obtained it all from. During a second interview with Illinois State Police Luker admitted that he had gone to their headquarters in Illinois and stole property from police vehicles such as the radar unit, an Illinois State Police license plate, and a vehicle’s arm rest that was installed in his vehicle at the time of the traffic stop. Luker also admitted to being in possession of other stolen property belonging to the Illinois State Police. He stated that some of his friends had stolen property from Illinois State Police vehicles as well.
While in custody Luker made a phone call to his mother stating that the Illinois State Police would be coming to her residence to retrieve a license plate, and some laptop stands that were stolen from the Illinois State Police. During the phone call Ms. Luker stated that there was more equipment there besides what Luker was telling her to put into a box for the Illinois State Police. Luker then told Ms. Luker to get rid of the other stuff at her house. He tells her to dispose of the other items somewhere else. Ms. Luker explained to him that she didn’t feel comfortable doing that. Ms. Luker says that he has another vehicle in the driveway as well during the conversation. Luker tells her to have the vehicle towed from the residence to his grandfather’s residence or uncle’s residence because that vehicle was fully outfitted as well. Police arrived at the home and impounded that vehicle and all the other stolen equipment before anything could be removed.
Luker was charged with a Level 6 Felony for Theft in Lake County with an estimated value of $12,000.
Illinois State Police are also filing multiple charges on Luker. On September 9, 2024 the Cook County State’s Attorney Office approved the following charges: one count of Theft from State Supported Property (Class 2 Felony), one count of Possession of a Stolen Credit Card (Class 4 Felony) and one count of Criminal Trespass to State Supported Property (Class A Misdemeanor).
