Man accused of stealing coach’s backpack from inside Oak Forest school during cheerleading competition

OAK FOREST, Ill. — A Crestwood man was taken into custody this week after he allegedly stole a backpack from a coach during a cheerleading competition at a school in the southwest suburbs last month.

48-year-old Michael Witowski has been charged with one felony count of theft from a school following the alleged incident, Oak Forest police announced Thursday.

Officers said the incident unfolded on Jan. 19, at Oak Forest High School in the 15200 block of Central Avenue.

According to police, Witowski was allegedly spotted on security video fleeing from the high school with a backpack that belonged to a coach from another school who was attending the annual Bengal Challenge cheerleading competition at the school.

After authorities were notified about the alleged theft, they reviewed the security camera footage and spotted a person allegedly enter the school before making his way to the classroom where the coach had left her belongings. The video later shows the individual fleeing from the school with what police said appeared to be the stolen backpack.

Through the help of administrators at Oak Forest High School, Oak Forest police were actually able to identify Witowski as a suspect and said he was then taken into custody without incident.

“We thank the Oak Forest community and the high school for their assistance in this investigation,” Oak Forest Police Chief Scott Durano said. “It is through this sort of community effort that we can keep one another safe, and successfully investigate incidents like this one.”