Man arrested for stealing forklift at the Peoria Civic Center

Posted on April 23, 2025

*The case remains under investigation. (Photo courtesy: Flickr/File*

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A Chillicothe man was arrested for the alleged theft of an unusual item — a forklift — in Peoria.

The Peoria Police Department was called at 12:25 p.m. Monday, April 21, to the Peoria Civic Center, which is located on the 200 block of Southwest Jefferson Avenue, to a report that a forklift had been allegedly stolen from the loading dock.

When officers arrived, they found the forklift had been abandoned about half a mile away at the 200 block of Romeo B. Garrett Avenue and identified Dillon Howard, 30, as the alleged suspect.

Howard was found and booked for theft in the Peoria County Jail.

According to court documents, he released on a notice to appear later in court.

WMBD TV can be reached at [email protected].

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