BBQ grill thieves leave trail of grease

BY MARIA BARAN - News-Democrat

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WATERLOO -- Well, it must have sounded like a good idea at the time.

But a grease trail quickly led police to two Monroe County men they said stole an industrial-sized barbecue grill during the community's annual German festival.

Andrew J. Schneider, 29, and Trent J. Gilliam, 35, are charged with stealing the 16-foot long, stainless steel grill from the Monroe County Courthouse lawn Tuesday night during the festival, called the Porta Westfalica Festival after Waterloo's German sister city.

The Monroe County Pork Producers had grilled more than 500 steaks and 1,000 bratwursts that day on the brand new $10,000 grill.

Police said the two men hooked the grill to the back of their truck about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, in front of party-goers still enjoying their steaks and cold drinks.

"They just rolled it right off the curb, hooked it to their truck and took off," Waterloo Police Chief Jim Trantham said. "We're not dealing with 16-year-olds that thought they'd pull a stunt."

Police followed the grease trail, which led west of Waterloo on Illinois 156. Police in neighboring Valmeyer spotted the truck pulling the grill and began following it. The Monroe County Sheriff's Department arrested the two men on HH Road.

"There was grease all over everything," Trantham said.

Schneider lives on Nike Road near New Athens in unincorporated Monroe County; Gilliam lives on Old Orchard Lane near Waterloo in unincorporated Monroe County.

The two men were charged Wednesday with theft. Each posted a $10,000 bond and was released from the Monroe County Jail.

Contact reporter Maria Baran at mbaran@bnd.com 239-2460.

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