An alleged metal thief who made off with roughly $200,000 worth of aluminum has been charged with felony theft.
Peter Gallant, 46, of the 7700 block of West 87th Street, in Bridgeview, is being held in lieu of $35,000 bail in connection with thefts from Orland Township and Willow Springs.
Gallant was arrested Thursday after an investigation by Cook County Sheriff’s Police spanning more than three weeks. Authorities said Gallant admitted to the thefts after he was arrested.
The investigation began March 22 after after a business on the 17100 block of South Wolf Road in unincorporated Orland Township reported the theft of 300 aluminum panels and other accessories used in building foundations, worth $200,000, according to a news release.
During their investigation, detectives learned Gallant had recently sold 22 identical aluminum panels at a scrap metal business in Alsip for $1,000. They also discovered that Gallant was also a suspect in metal thefts in Orland Park and Willow Springs, according to the release.
Aluminum remains a target for thieves seeking a quick profit, as the price of the metal has almost doubled in the past two years.
As the investigation continues, Cook County Sheriff’s Police detectives are seeking information from anyone who may have had contact with Gallant recently, or from scrap yards that have purchased large quantities of aluminum panels, according to the release.
