Crime & Safety

Tinley Park Police: Oak Forest Woman Had Cocaine Stuffed in Bra

Police say Menards employees stopped the woman after they noticed she had hidden a nail gun under her coat.

Tinley Park Police charged an Oak Forest woman with battery, retail theft and possession of a controlled substance Feb. 11 when she tried stealing a coil nail gun from a local hardware store, they said.

Gretchen A. Budde, 38, of the 5800 block of Independence Avenue in Oak Forest, was arrested around 8 p.m. Saturday at Menards, 6851 W. 159th St.,Tinley Park. Police said store security stopped Budde after they noticed she hid a $312 Hitachi "coil nailer" under her coat.

At that time, Budde reportedly shoved the loss prevention officer, police said. While being placed under arrest, she handed over a stash of cocaine that she'd stuffed in her bra, they said. She was charged with felony retail theft, possession of a controlled substance, and battery. Staff at Menards gave police video surveillance and photographs of the incident.

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