Career Shoplifter Arrested

An 86-year-old woman was placed in custody Sunday afternoon in what Chicago police said was her 61st arrest for shoplifting after she allegedly took several items including anti-wrinkle cream from a North Side Dominick’s Finer Foods.

Ella Orko, 86, of an unidentified address in Chicago, was charged with felony shoplifting, according to a Belmont District police lieutenant who said she was arrested at 3 p.m. Sunday at a Dominick's grocery in the 2500 block of North Clyborn Avenue.

Orko allegedly took five packs of salmon, 11 packages of AA batteries, 2 packs of L’Oreal RevitaLift anti-wrinkle cream, eight boxed jars of Olay face cream and four jars of instant coffee from the store, according to the lieutenant.

Orko was arrested when someone from the grocery saw her allegedly take the items, which have a total value of $252.26, and place them in her clothing before attempting to exit the store without paying for the items, according to a police report.

Orko, who has been arrested 61 times including Sunday’s arrest, has 13 convictions also for shoplifting. She was arrested for the first time in 1956 in Chicago for petty larceny and again in 1958 for grand larceny, according to the lieutenant.

“She’s a career shoplifter,’’ the lieutenant said.

Belmont Area detectives are investigating.