Cops: Man who took champagne nabbed for 63rd time

[November 10, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago police said a West Side man who allegedly tried to walk out of a store with three expensive bottles of champagne under his jacket now has 63 arrests under his belt.

Officers said the 70-year-old man was initially charged with misdemeanor retail theft, but the charge was upgraded to a felony Monday after authorities look over his extensive police record, which included 62 prior arrests.

Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Michael Fitzpatrick said the man was arrested late Sunday afternoon after allegedly swiping champagne from a Lake View neighborhood Whole Foods store. Fitzpatrick said the suspect has used at least 50 aliases over the years.

The champagne was valued at $135.

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Information from: Chicago Sun-Times, http://www.suntimes.com/index.html

[Associated Press]

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