La Grange police were on their toes again this week when they quickly responded to a report of a suspicious man near a vehicle in a church parking lot and arrived to find a teenager wielding a tire iron with the alleged intent of breaking in to steal a GPS device.
Arrested on a single count of attempted burglary to a motor vehicle was Dennis L. Tabor, 17, of 1007 S. La Grange Road, La Grange. The incident occurred between 10:10 and 10:20 am. Sept. 28 outside of the First Presbyterian Church of La Grange in the 132 Catherine Ave.
When police received the call, it was reported a man with glasses and a black coat had parked an older tan 2-door vehicle in the church lot and kept getting in and out of it to look inside a blue vehicle also parked in the lot. Police responded and found the man on the north side of the lot.
Detective Rob Wardlaw said the teen, who admitted to his desire to smash the window to carry out the theft, will be tried as an adult.
This case, he added, was not believed connected to any of the recent burglaries in the village or to last week's burglary arrest.
Burglaries & thefts
The owner of The UPS Store, 106 W. Calendar Court, reported someone broke into his business between Sept. 26 and 28 and stole an undetermined amount of cash from a cash drawer. The package delivery store was closed Sept. 27, but police said there was no forced entry.
A day later, at 4:04 p.m. Sept. 29, a resident in the 300 block of Sunset Avenue reported their copper gutters had been stolen from their house earlier that day.
A boys black BMX-type Viper bicycle was reported stolen from a front yard in the 300 block of East Elm Avenue on Sept. 26. The theft was reported at 8:23 a.m. Sept. 29.
A resident in the 400 block of South Park Road reported the theft of a FedEx package from their house. The package, with undisclosed contents, was reported missing at 11:20 a.m. Sept. 27.
In a related note, a resident in the 500 block of South Catherine Avenue told police they witnessed an unknown male in a dark hoodie run away from their car after setting off the alarm at about 7:45 p.m. Sept. 23. The subject, whom police could not locate, was last seen running up northbound Ashland Avenue from westbound 50th Street.
On Sept. 29, three male black teens in dark clothing also were seen messing with bicycle locks at about 4 p.m. outside of the La Grange Public Library, 10 W. Cossitt Ave. They, too, were gone by the time police arrived.
Odd, but true
A resident living near West Field near the Lyons Township High School's North campus at Edgewood and Cossitt avenues made a delayed report at 9 a.m. Sept. 25 indicating a mutilated duck and a squirrel were found, both decapitated, in the park, along with several beer bottles. The items were believed left there between 5 p.m. Sept. 19 and Sept. 21.
Vandalism
Kids were seen egging homes in the 900 block of Catherine Avenue at 53rd Street shortly before 11 p.m. Sept. 27. Someone's daughter was also egged that day, but at about 8 p.m., while she was in the 800 block of South 8th Avenue. Another neighbor reported seeing someone in a black SUV, possibly a Ford Explorer, possibly throw an egg at a car. That person was last seen on southbound 50th Street at 8th Avenue.
A cola product was thrown at a residential garage in the 1000 block of South Spring Avenue at 2:05 a.m. Sept. 26. The vandalism, reported the following afternoon, was videotaped by the homeowner.
Beer cans and items belonging to kids were found in a yard in the 600 block of South 7th Avenue shortly after 9 a.m. Sept. 26, where it is believed unknown offenders had been drinking.
BB holes were discovered in two windows of a vacant house in the 100 block of East Avenue, it was reported at about 6 p.m. Sept. 23.
People news
The Fire Department helped free an unidentified child from an elevator in the Park District of La Grange Recreation Center, 536 East Ave., after 11 a.m. Sept. 29.
No tickets were issued against the driver of a van who told police he hit the gas when he meant to brake in a parking lot and ran over the parking block, through a shrub and ran into the brick wall of La Grange Pediatrics, 1400 W. 47th St., at about 4 p.m. Sept. 23. The driver, a 16-year-old from Western Springs, and a 52-year-old female passenger, refused medical treatment.
A 17-year-old Brookfield girl claimed she was assaulted by another while at LT, 100 S. Brainard Ave., it was reported about 7 p.m. Sept. 23.
A 6-year-old La Grange boy who fell an broke his arm at Seventh Avenue School, 701 S. 7th Ave., at about 9 a.m. Sept. 23, was transported by paramedics to Adventist La Grange Hospital and treated for his injuries.
Mother Nature calling
The windy weekend weather on Monday night caused lots of mayhem in and around town, including a downed cable wire over a house at Bluff and Calendar avenues; a downed tree across a sidewalk and driveway in the 100 block of South Ashland Avenue; a downed 30-foot-tall tree with a 12-inch diameter blocking a street in the 500 block of South 8th Avenue and a downed tree blocking the southbound lanes of Brainard Avenue at 49th Street.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
POLICE BUST 5-TIME BURGLAR
Police in both La Grange and Brookfield have been doing a fine job lately cracking the endless stream of vandalism, thefts, burglaries and home invasions that have been plaguing our communities in recent months.
Just this week, La Grange investigators were quick to the punch in breaking a case of five residential and vehicular break-ins in recent weeks with the Sept. 21 arrest of 19-year old Anthony Harris, of Chicago on five felony counts of burglary.
A resident called police early in the morning Sept. 20 to report two suspicious people in the 100 block of East Maple Avenue.
After a short foot chase of the suspects in the 300 block of South 7th Avenue, Harris was apprehended near 6th and Goodman avenues with some property he could not account for. A search of the area to determine the origin of the proceeds was conducted by La Grange officers with the assistance of Brookfield, La Grange Park, Countryside and Western Springs police.
A canine unit from the Darien Police Department also responded to the area.
A comprehensive search was conducted and the officers and investigators located burglaries in the first block of South Catherine Avenue and the 300 blocks of South Catherine and 7th avenues.
Harris was interrogated at the La Grange police station and two additional crime scenes were identified.
Evidence and property related to the burglaries has been recovered. The evidence included, but was not limited to purses, cell phones and other electronic devices.
However, Police Chief Michael Holub stated these latest cases may not be linked to others in the village earlier this summer.
"Although we have experienced previous burglaries or thefts in La Grange over the past several weeks, we do not believe Anthony Harris is involved in any of those prior cases," he stated.
Now, some happy news
A dog to remain nameless was reunited with its owner following a potentially tragic set of circumstances shortly before 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18. Seems the pet was being walked when it slipped away from its owner's grip and ran into traffic at 47th Street and 9th Avenue, obviously unaware there was a painted crosswalk right there. The dog was struck by the vehicle and became stuck beneath it, but eventually freed himself. Whew. Close call.
Unrelated thefts
Sometime between 11 p.m. Sept. 21 and 8:45 a.m. Sept. 22, a 2-foot-high-by-10-inch wide faux cement decorative lion on a square base was stolen from a front porch in the 200 block of South Kensington Avenue. The figure was valued at $50. Kid's bicycles were reported stolen from a front yard in the 200 block of South Kensington and the front porch of a home in the 100 block of South 8th Avenue, both on Sept. 18
Miscellaneous items were taken when a vehicle was burglarized in the overnight hours of Sept. 21 in the 900 block of South Catherine. Also that night, several articles were shuffled around inside a possibly unlocked vehicle as it was parked in the 300 block of South 6th Avenue, but nothing was reported stolen. In the overnight hours of Sept. 15, two vehicles were burglarized in the 800 block of South La Grange Road.
A white MacBook laptop computer and black IPod were stolen when burglars forcibly entered a locked door of a home in the 100 block of Edgewood Lane in the overnight hours of Sept. 20 and rifled through an entire room while the residents were away.
A resident of the 200 block of South Kensington also reported a burglary to his home after returning from vacation shortly before 9 a.m. Sept. 21, but it was unknown if entry was gained. A ladder taken out of an open side door of the garage was found propped up against the back of the house.
Yet another resident, this time in the 200 block of South Spring Avenue, told police that they heard a noise outside about 1:15 a.m. Sept. 20 and saw two subjects running through yards. Upon investigation, they found their basement window well uncovered and several paver bricks stacked on the side. No entry was gained.
Some (other) crimes go unpunished
A boy was spotted on the roof of the AT&T building at Calendar Court and Ashland Avenue throwing rocks at cars shortly after 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18. He later told police hr was waiting for hos father, who works there, to get off for the day.
That night, at about 9:30 p.m., someone called 911 from a cell phone to report a group of kids who somehow made their way up to the roof of Cossitt School, 115 E. Cossitt Ave. (this seems a regular occurrence), and decided to start playing dodgeball with another group of kids down below. They were seen leaving the area when police arrived.
And we thought summer was over. A group of kids seen bombing cars with eggs from just west of La Grange Road at Ogden Avenue shortly before 10:30 p.m. Sept. 18 could not be located.
The driver of a Waste Management truck was not ticketed when he rear ended and knocked over a fire hydrant in the first block of Beech Avenue at Shawmut Avenue in La Grange Park shortly before 7:30 a.m. Sept. 22. The Fire Department took care of the downed hydrant.
At around 8:30 a.m. Sept. 22, a broken window was discovered at the north side of the former Rich Port YMCA, 31 E. Ogden Ave. Plywood over the window was pried off and the outer of two windows was broken, but no entry was gained.
The unknown driver of a red Corvette was doing burnouts on the street in front of a house in the 700 block of South 12th Avenue on the morning and in the early evening of Sept. 20. In the evening incident, the car turfed the front lawn as well. A special watch was requested as the homeowner believes the trouble is related to a vandalized vehicle reported to Western Springs police two days earlier.
A post was reported on fire in a park at 53rd and Spring avenues shortly after 9 a.m. Sept. 19 and a car was reported on fire at Washington and Lincoln avenues shortly before 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18.
People crimes and what-not
An unknown woman seen walking in the middle of La Grange Road traffic between 47th and 55th streets during the early evening rush hour Sept. 22 prompted several 911 calls from passersby, but police never located her.
A 54-year-old homeless man from Elgin was told to go find another place to stay after he was found establishing residency under the Ogden Avenue bridge along Tilden Avenue and adjacent to the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad tracks at 5:40 p.m. Sept. 18. A day earlier, at about the same time, a 63-year-old homeless woman was sent elsewhere after someone complained she was panhandling outside of the Hallmark gift store at 4 W. Burlington Ave.
A 36-year-old Aurora man who called police to report he had been stabbed during a fight at Bluff and Harris avenues at about 8 p.m. Sept. 18 ended up refusing medical treatment when offered. Multiple 911 calls alerted cops to the fight, which was broken up by the time they arrived.
A 17-year-old Lyons Township High School student was treated for injuries when she hit her head while in the Vaughn Building on the North campus, 100 S. Brainard Ave., it was reported at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 18.
Someone claimed they were jumped by two teens around 47th Street and 9th Avenue at about 8 .m. Sept. 17. The suspects were described as about 18 years old, each one wearing a white short, white hat and blue jeans and the other wearing a Navy blue polo shirt with a design on it. They were last seen in the 700 block of South 8th Avenue.
Two 23-year-old women were cited for simple battery after they got into a fight with each other behind a building in the 1000 block of South La Grange Road at about 3:40 p.m. Sept. 16. Cited were Danielle Zychowski of Justice and Ashley Ortega of Willow Springs.
Just this week, La Grange investigators were quick to the punch in breaking a case of five residential and vehicular break-ins in recent weeks with the Sept. 21 arrest of 19-year old Anthony Harris, of Chicago on five felony counts of burglary.
A resident called police early in the morning Sept. 20 to report two suspicious people in the 100 block of East Maple Avenue.
After a short foot chase of the suspects in the 300 block of South 7th Avenue, Harris was apprehended near 6th and Goodman avenues with some property he could not account for. A search of the area to determine the origin of the proceeds was conducted by La Grange officers with the assistance of Brookfield, La Grange Park, Countryside and Western Springs police.
A canine unit from the Darien Police Department also responded to the area.
A comprehensive search was conducted and the officers and investigators located burglaries in the first block of South Catherine Avenue and the 300 blocks of South Catherine and 7th avenues.
Harris was interrogated at the La Grange police station and two additional crime scenes were identified.
Evidence and property related to the burglaries has been recovered. The evidence included, but was not limited to purses, cell phones and other electronic devices.
However, Police Chief Michael Holub stated these latest cases may not be linked to others in the village earlier this summer.
"Although we have experienced previous burglaries or thefts in La Grange over the past several weeks, we do not believe Anthony Harris is involved in any of those prior cases," he stated.
Now, some happy news
A dog to remain nameless was reunited with its owner following a potentially tragic set of circumstances shortly before 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18. Seems the pet was being walked when it slipped away from its owner's grip and ran into traffic at 47th Street and 9th Avenue, obviously unaware there was a painted crosswalk right there. The dog was struck by the vehicle and became stuck beneath it, but eventually freed himself. Whew. Close call.
Unrelated thefts
Sometime between 11 p.m. Sept. 21 and 8:45 a.m. Sept. 22, a 2-foot-high-by-10-inch wide faux cement decorative lion on a square base was stolen from a front porch in the 200 block of South Kensington Avenue. The figure was valued at $50. Kid's bicycles were reported stolen from a front yard in the 200 block of South Kensington and the front porch of a home in the 100 block of South 8th Avenue, both on Sept. 18
Miscellaneous items were taken when a vehicle was burglarized in the overnight hours of Sept. 21 in the 900 block of South Catherine. Also that night, several articles were shuffled around inside a possibly unlocked vehicle as it was parked in the 300 block of South 6th Avenue, but nothing was reported stolen. In the overnight hours of Sept. 15, two vehicles were burglarized in the 800 block of South La Grange Road.
A white MacBook laptop computer and black IPod were stolen when burglars forcibly entered a locked door of a home in the 100 block of Edgewood Lane in the overnight hours of Sept. 20 and rifled through an entire room while the residents were away.
A resident of the 200 block of South Kensington also reported a burglary to his home after returning from vacation shortly before 9 a.m. Sept. 21, but it was unknown if entry was gained. A ladder taken out of an open side door of the garage was found propped up against the back of the house.
Yet another resident, this time in the 200 block of South Spring Avenue, told police that they heard a noise outside about 1:15 a.m. Sept. 20 and saw two subjects running through yards. Upon investigation, they found their basement window well uncovered and several paver bricks stacked on the side. No entry was gained.
Some (other) crimes go unpunished
A boy was spotted on the roof of the AT&T building at Calendar Court and Ashland Avenue throwing rocks at cars shortly after 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18. He later told police hr was waiting for hos father, who works there, to get off for the day.
That night, at about 9:30 p.m., someone called 911 from a cell phone to report a group of kids who somehow made their way up to the roof of Cossitt School, 115 E. Cossitt Ave. (this seems a regular occurrence), and decided to start playing dodgeball with another group of kids down below. They were seen leaving the area when police arrived.
And we thought summer was over. A group of kids seen bombing cars with eggs from just west of La Grange Road at Ogden Avenue shortly before 10:30 p.m. Sept. 18 could not be located.
The driver of a Waste Management truck was not ticketed when he rear ended and knocked over a fire hydrant in the first block of Beech Avenue at Shawmut Avenue in La Grange Park shortly before 7:30 a.m. Sept. 22. The Fire Department took care of the downed hydrant.
At around 8:30 a.m. Sept. 22, a broken window was discovered at the north side of the former Rich Port YMCA, 31 E. Ogden Ave. Plywood over the window was pried off and the outer of two windows was broken, but no entry was gained.
The unknown driver of a red Corvette was doing burnouts on the street in front of a house in the 700 block of South 12th Avenue on the morning and in the early evening of Sept. 20. In the evening incident, the car turfed the front lawn as well. A special watch was requested as the homeowner believes the trouble is related to a vandalized vehicle reported to Western Springs police two days earlier.
A post was reported on fire in a park at 53rd and Spring avenues shortly after 9 a.m. Sept. 19 and a car was reported on fire at Washington and Lincoln avenues shortly before 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18.
People crimes and what-not
An unknown woman seen walking in the middle of La Grange Road traffic between 47th and 55th streets during the early evening rush hour Sept. 22 prompted several 911 calls from passersby, but police never located her.
A 54-year-old homeless man from Elgin was told to go find another place to stay after he was found establishing residency under the Ogden Avenue bridge along Tilden Avenue and adjacent to the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad tracks at 5:40 p.m. Sept. 18. A day earlier, at about the same time, a 63-year-old homeless woman was sent elsewhere after someone complained she was panhandling outside of the Hallmark gift store at 4 W. Burlington Ave.
A 36-year-old Aurora man who called police to report he had been stabbed during a fight at Bluff and Harris avenues at about 8 p.m. Sept. 18 ended up refusing medical treatment when offered. Multiple 911 calls alerted cops to the fight, which was broken up by the time they arrived.
A 17-year-old Lyons Township High School student was treated for injuries when she hit her head while in the Vaughn Building on the North campus, 100 S. Brainard Ave., it was reported at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 18.
Someone claimed they were jumped by two teens around 47th Street and 9th Avenue at about 8 .m. Sept. 17. The suspects were described as about 18 years old, each one wearing a white short, white hat and blue jeans and the other wearing a Navy blue polo shirt with a design on it. They were last seen in the 700 block of South 8th Avenue.
Two 23-year-old women were cited for simple battery after they got into a fight with each other behind a building in the 1000 block of South La Grange Road at about 3:40 p.m. Sept. 16. Cited were Danielle Zychowski of Justice and Ashley Ortega of Willow Springs.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
MORE BURGLARIES, VANDALISM
The most noteworthy crime report of the past week or so, if not the most bizarre in nature, did not even occur in La Grange but in neighboring Brookfield. Still, the attempted armed robbery at the Dunkin' Donuts at Maple and Ogden avenues in the early morning hours of Sept. 1 did prompt the La Grange police to respond and help search for the suspect.
Police report a white male wearing a grey shirt and riding a bicycle walked into the 24-hour doughnut shop at 2:57 a.m. and tried to hold up the place with a pipe wrench. Upon his entry, all of the employees ran out a rear door. Shortly thereafter, the suspect also took off but without any money or food and is still at large.
A La Grange police officer received a hot tip from two subjects who wished to remain anonymous at about 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 that a possible shooting was to have occurred that night in the village. After verifying area residents were warned to stay off the streets, the officer learned a 36-year-old man from the 200 block of Sawyer Avenue was robbed and beaten by known offenders from La Grange that morning the incident could result in retaliation.
Almost a week earlier, on the evening of Sept. 9, the beating victim reported a burglary to his home. Stolen, he told police, were an assault rifle and various prescription medications.
Break-ins, thefts
No arrests were made when a break-in occurred at a home in the 700 block of South Waiola Avenue at 1:35 a.m. Sept. 11. An ADT residential alarm alerted police to the burglary, in which the offenders ran away out the rear door. Investigators and the Countryside canine unit were called out to assist in the search.
A 5-foot-3 white balding man named Chris came into the Pier One imports store, 15 N. La Grange Road, early in the business day Sept. 15 and unsuccessfully tried to return some merchandise with fake receipts. The matter was not turned over to police and, in fact, was not reported until hours, later but will be handled internally by the store's loss prevention staff, police said.
A video gaming system and other items were reported missing from an apartment unit in the first block of West Burlington Avenue that police learned is often unlocked. The report was filed shortly before 9 p.m. Sept. 10.
Someone entered a home in the 200 block of South Stone Avenue on Sept. 6 and took some items. The break-in was reported to police four days later.
A fence on the ComEd property in the 900 block of Hillgrove Avenue was cut and some cable was stolen, it was reported to police at 11:44 a.m. Sept. 15.
An unlocked boys royal blue 24-inch Magna bicycle was stolen from the 100 block of North Spring Avenue on Sept. 11. The theft was reported four days later.
An LCD projector was stolen in the overnight hours of Sept. 11 and 12 from the front yard of a home in the 400 block of East Maple Avenue, police said.
Vandalism
A decorative Chicago White Sox home plate sign was smashed to pieces and left out in the street in front of the same house in the 800 block of South 7th Avenue sometime between 5 p.m. Sept. 12 and noon Sept. 13. The sign was valued at $30.
A 50-year-old resident in the 100 block of Sawyer Avenue found paint balls on the inside of her back yard fence. There was no permanent damage.
A window was broken in a van parked in the first block of South Ashland Avenue, it was reported at 2:26 a.m. Sept. 11.
People stories
A special watch was requested about 8:30 p.m., also on Sept 15, based on a report that various subjects are rolling marijuana joints and smoking them in Sawyer Park at Lincoln and Washington avenues.
A resident of the first block of South Waiola Avenue called police shortly before 8:30 a.m. Sept.15 and reported a raccoon was stuck inside a garbage Dumpster behind her apartment building and could not get out because there was no waste inside for him to climb on and exit.
The animal was provided an escape route and was freed a few minutes later, police said.
Police are investigating a possible case of child neglect involving an infant in the first block of North Peck Avenue who suffered a broken femur shortly before 10 a.m. Sept. 11.
A 73-year-old resident of the 100 block of Hayes Avenue told police she was disrespected and harassed by a 14-year-old boy. When police came to look for him, he was gone.
A 70-year-old La Grange man also reported being harassed by a homeless man on a bicycle shortly before 11 a.m. Sept. 12 at Hillgrove and Madison avenues. When police arrived to investigate, the offender could not be found.
And on Sept. 9, a resident in the 700 block of South 6th Avenue told police a 50- to 60-year-old brunette homeless woman tried to get into her vehicle at about 4:30 p.m. that day. The offender, with missing teeth and wearing a red and white striped shirt and white Capri pants, was first seen in front of the victim's house when she asked for a ride. When she was refused, the transient woman then tried to get into the passenger seat as the victim left the area to call police. The victim was told to call police again if the woman returns.
A boy was allegedly bit by a dog at around 7 p.m. Sept. 8 in the 100 block of South 6th Avenue. The injury was reported two days later.
A 19-year-old La Grange woman reported Sept. 9 her identity was stolen when her Kohl's department store credit card went missing from her car back in April 2009. In later months, the card was illegally used in several unknown communities.
Police report a white male wearing a grey shirt and riding a bicycle walked into the 24-hour doughnut shop at 2:57 a.m. and tried to hold up the place with a pipe wrench. Upon his entry, all of the employees ran out a rear door. Shortly thereafter, the suspect also took off but without any money or food and is still at large.
A La Grange police officer received a hot tip from two subjects who wished to remain anonymous at about 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 that a possible shooting was to have occurred that night in the village. After verifying area residents were warned to stay off the streets, the officer learned a 36-year-old man from the 200 block of Sawyer Avenue was robbed and beaten by known offenders from La Grange that morning the incident could result in retaliation.
Almost a week earlier, on the evening of Sept. 9, the beating victim reported a burglary to his home. Stolen, he told police, were an assault rifle and various prescription medications.
Break-ins, thefts
No arrests were made when a break-in occurred at a home in the 700 block of South Waiola Avenue at 1:35 a.m. Sept. 11. An ADT residential alarm alerted police to the burglary, in which the offenders ran away out the rear door. Investigators and the Countryside canine unit were called out to assist in the search.
A 5-foot-3 white balding man named Chris came into the Pier One imports store, 15 N. La Grange Road, early in the business day Sept. 15 and unsuccessfully tried to return some merchandise with fake receipts. The matter was not turned over to police and, in fact, was not reported until hours, later but will be handled internally by the store's loss prevention staff, police said.
A video gaming system and other items were reported missing from an apartment unit in the first block of West Burlington Avenue that police learned is often unlocked. The report was filed shortly before 9 p.m. Sept. 10.
Someone entered a home in the 200 block of South Stone Avenue on Sept. 6 and took some items. The break-in was reported to police four days later.
A fence on the ComEd property in the 900 block of Hillgrove Avenue was cut and some cable was stolen, it was reported to police at 11:44 a.m. Sept. 15.
An unlocked boys royal blue 24-inch Magna bicycle was stolen from the 100 block of North Spring Avenue on Sept. 11. The theft was reported four days later.
An LCD projector was stolen in the overnight hours of Sept. 11 and 12 from the front yard of a home in the 400 block of East Maple Avenue, police said.
Vandalism
A decorative Chicago White Sox home plate sign was smashed to pieces and left out in the street in front of the same house in the 800 block of South 7th Avenue sometime between 5 p.m. Sept. 12 and noon Sept. 13. The sign was valued at $30.
A 50-year-old resident in the 100 block of Sawyer Avenue found paint balls on the inside of her back yard fence. There was no permanent damage.
A window was broken in a van parked in the first block of South Ashland Avenue, it was reported at 2:26 a.m. Sept. 11.
People stories
A special watch was requested about 8:30 p.m., also on Sept 15, based on a report that various subjects are rolling marijuana joints and smoking them in Sawyer Park at Lincoln and Washington avenues.
A resident of the first block of South Waiola Avenue called police shortly before 8:30 a.m. Sept.15 and reported a raccoon was stuck inside a garbage Dumpster behind her apartment building and could not get out because there was no waste inside for him to climb on and exit.
The animal was provided an escape route and was freed a few minutes later, police said.
Police are investigating a possible case of child neglect involving an infant in the first block of North Peck Avenue who suffered a broken femur shortly before 10 a.m. Sept. 11.
A 73-year-old resident of the 100 block of Hayes Avenue told police she was disrespected and harassed by a 14-year-old boy. When police came to look for him, he was gone.
A 70-year-old La Grange man also reported being harassed by a homeless man on a bicycle shortly before 11 a.m. Sept. 12 at Hillgrove and Madison avenues. When police arrived to investigate, the offender could not be found.
And on Sept. 9, a resident in the 700 block of South 6th Avenue told police a 50- to 60-year-old brunette homeless woman tried to get into her vehicle at about 4:30 p.m. that day. The offender, with missing teeth and wearing a red and white striped shirt and white Capri pants, was first seen in front of the victim's house when she asked for a ride. When she was refused, the transient woman then tried to get into the passenger seat as the victim left the area to call police. The victim was told to call police again if the woman returns.
A boy was allegedly bit by a dog at around 7 p.m. Sept. 8 in the 100 block of South 6th Avenue. The injury was reported two days later.
A 19-year-old La Grange woman reported Sept. 9 her identity was stolen when her Kohl's department store credit card went missing from her car back in April 2009. In later months, the card was illegally used in several unknown communities.
Fire call
A resident cleaning a kitchen oven inside a house in the 800 block of South 7th Avenue alerted the La Grange Fire Department the room filled up with smoke. There was no fire and a fan was provided to air out the home.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
LA GRANGE KID BUSTED FOR BREAK-INS
A 16-year-old La Grange boy was one of a tri0 of teens who were arrested this past week for brazenly entering several homes in Brookfield to burglarize them in recent days. Although the high schooler and a 14-year-old partner-in-crime from Brookfield were not identified by police because they are being petitioned to Cook County Juvenile Court, their 17-year-old alleged accomplice, Aurelio Ortega, also of Brookfield, is being tried as an adult. Following a Sept. 8 bond hearing at the Maybrook Courthouse in Maywood, Ortega was held on a $200,o00 bond in the Cook County Jail. Each of the alleged offenders' roles in the series of early morning home break-ins was not yet revealed, but each is being charged with four counts of residential burglary.
The most recent home invasion occurred in the early morning hours of Sept. 4, in which a home in the 4400 block of South Blanchan Avenue (that's just one block east of La Grange) was entered while residents were asleep. Stolen were a laptop computer, a cellular telephone and several DVDs. Also on Sept. 4, an LCD television set and wallet were stolen from a home in the 4400 block of South Raymond Avenue. Two other burglaries, in which cash was stolen, occurred on Aug. 28 and Sept. 1, police said.
And elsewhere in La Grange ...
A 32-year-old Brookfield man recently suspended from patron privileges for a year at the La Grange Public Library for breaking an undisclosed rule returned to the facility, 10 W. Cossitt Ave., on Sept. 5 and made a veiled bomb threat. Library Director Jeanne Dilger-Hill told police on the morning of Sept. 8 that the man threatened to blow up the place after being kicked out a day earlier. In the heat of an argument, he allegedly made a statement in reference to "blowing up the building" but attempted nothing of the sort. In fact, library officials told police they did not believe the man would follow through with the threat. Police cautioned them to alert them if the man, whose name was also undisclosed, returns again.
A burglar alarm was activated at St. James Community Baptist Church, 241 Sawyer Ave., at about 1:30 p.m. Sept. 8 alerting police that glass was breaking in a study and the north and west master bedrooms. Police responded and found the exterior secure.
Burglar alarms also were activated numerous times at Gurrie Middle School, 1001 S. Spring Ave. A cafeteria door exit was compromised at 1:40 a.m. Sept. 7, 6 p.m. Sept. 6 and at 9:50 p.m. and 5:06 a.m. Sept. 5. Each time the building was deemed secure. However, a 911 caller alerted police to kids playing on the school roof shortly after 7 p.m. Sept. 5 and the vagrants took off as police were arriving.
A GPS unit and money were reported stolen from a silver Lexus as it was parked in the 1000 block of South Madison Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. Sept. 4. It was not known if the vehicle was locked, but the break-in occurred during the previous night.
Several bicycles were stolen recently, including a boys grey sparkled Mongoose BMX-type bike with black lettering which was chained to a pole behind a building in the first block of La Grange Road at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6 and discovered missing at 1:45 p.m. Sept. 7. A 16-inch grey Diamondback with a black design left unlocked outside Chipotle, 1 S. La Grange Road, was taken at about 9 p.m. Sept. 5, it was reported the next afternoon. Shortly before 5:30 p.m. Sept. 5, a locked 17-inch red Raleigh Comfort bike valued at $329 was reported stolen from Brainard and Burlington avenues. A bicycle also was taken from outside Borders, 1 N. La Grange Road, on Sept. 3.
Four boys escaped out a rear door of Santiago's Mexican restaurant, 9 S. La Grange Road, without paying their $35 food bill sh0rtly after 9 p.m. Sept. 3. Police said the boys, who were not arrested, walked out with the bill in hand and were last seen southbound down the alley between La Grange Road and Sixth Avenue. One of the boys was wearing shorts and a white t-shirt.
A 17-year-old Countryside girl, a student at Lyons Township High School's North campus, 100 S. Brainard Ave., was caught with an alleged marijuana smell on her on at 12:40 p.m. Sept. 2. Police said the girl tested positive for the drug, but faced no charges. The incident will be handled internally by the school.
Police on routine patrol Sept. 2 discovered open garage and house doors and windows too numerous to mention and bicycles not put away outside several homes. And we wonder why there have been so many thefts and burglaries lately.
A resident in the 600 block of South Kensington Avenue reported her cars were egged by unknown vandals at about 10:15p.m. Sept. 6.
In addition, a resident in the 300 block of South Peck Avenue said her land telephone line stopped working at 4 p.m. Sept. 4. When the phone company came out, they found wires had been ripped out from the phone box on the south side of the house.
Strange but true
Last but not least, a 10- to 12-year-old La Grange boy was spotted by a neighbor driving a white Pontiac down westbound Calendar Avenue from Washington Avenue at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 6, but police could not locate the boy or the car.
To top that off, it seems 34-year-old Frank DeMichel of Roselle may have been celebrating his birthday a week early last weekend. The driver was treated at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital for undisclosed injuries he suffered when he drove his black car into a light pole at the southwest corner of East and Ogden avenues on the night of Sept. 5. Several 911 calls alerted police to the crash and the downed traffic light and DeMichel was arrested on charges of drunken driving and several other traffic violations.
The most recent home invasion occurred in the early morning hours of Sept. 4, in which a home in the 4400 block of South Blanchan Avenue (that's just one block east of La Grange) was entered while residents were asleep. Stolen were a laptop computer, a cellular telephone and several DVDs. Also on Sept. 4, an LCD television set and wallet were stolen from a home in the 4400 block of South Raymond Avenue. Two other burglaries, in which cash was stolen, occurred on Aug. 28 and Sept. 1, police said.
And elsewhere in La Grange ...
A 32-year-old Brookfield man recently suspended from patron privileges for a year at the La Grange Public Library for breaking an undisclosed rule returned to the facility, 10 W. Cossitt Ave., on Sept. 5 and made a veiled bomb threat. Library Director Jeanne Dilger-Hill told police on the morning of Sept. 8 that the man threatened to blow up the place after being kicked out a day earlier. In the heat of an argument, he allegedly made a statement in reference to "blowing up the building" but attempted nothing of the sort. In fact, library officials told police they did not believe the man would follow through with the threat. Police cautioned them to alert them if the man, whose name was also undisclosed, returns again.
A burglar alarm was activated at St. James Community Baptist Church, 241 Sawyer Ave., at about 1:30 p.m. Sept. 8 alerting police that glass was breaking in a study and the north and west master bedrooms. Police responded and found the exterior secure.
Burglar alarms also were activated numerous times at Gurrie Middle School, 1001 S. Spring Ave. A cafeteria door exit was compromised at 1:40 a.m. Sept. 7, 6 p.m. Sept. 6 and at 9:50 p.m. and 5:06 a.m. Sept. 5. Each time the building was deemed secure. However, a 911 caller alerted police to kids playing on the school roof shortly after 7 p.m. Sept. 5 and the vagrants took off as police were arriving.
A GPS unit and money were reported stolen from a silver Lexus as it was parked in the 1000 block of South Madison Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. Sept. 4. It was not known if the vehicle was locked, but the break-in occurred during the previous night.
Several bicycles were stolen recently, including a boys grey sparkled Mongoose BMX-type bike with black lettering which was chained to a pole behind a building in the first block of La Grange Road at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6 and discovered missing at 1:45 p.m. Sept. 7. A 16-inch grey Diamondback with a black design left unlocked outside Chipotle, 1 S. La Grange Road, was taken at about 9 p.m. Sept. 5, it was reported the next afternoon. Shortly before 5:30 p.m. Sept. 5, a locked 17-inch red Raleigh Comfort bike valued at $329 was reported stolen from Brainard and Burlington avenues. A bicycle also was taken from outside Borders, 1 N. La Grange Road, on Sept. 3.
Four boys escaped out a rear door of Santiago's Mexican restaurant, 9 S. La Grange Road, without paying their $35 food bill sh0rtly after 9 p.m. Sept. 3. Police said the boys, who were not arrested, walked out with the bill in hand and were last seen southbound down the alley between La Grange Road and Sixth Avenue. One of the boys was wearing shorts and a white t-shirt.
A 17-year-old Countryside girl, a student at Lyons Township High School's North campus, 100 S. Brainard Ave., was caught with an alleged marijuana smell on her on at 12:40 p.m. Sept. 2. Police said the girl tested positive for the drug, but faced no charges. The incident will be handled internally by the school.
Police on routine patrol Sept. 2 discovered open garage and house doors and windows too numerous to mention and bicycles not put away outside several homes. And we wonder why there have been so many thefts and burglaries lately.
A resident in the 600 block of South Kensington Avenue reported her cars were egged by unknown vandals at about 10:15p.m. Sept. 6.
In addition, a resident in the 300 block of South Peck Avenue said her land telephone line stopped working at 4 p.m. Sept. 4. When the phone company came out, they found wires had been ripped out from the phone box on the south side of the house.
Strange but true
Last but not least, a 10- to 12-year-old La Grange boy was spotted by a neighbor driving a white Pontiac down westbound Calendar Avenue from Washington Avenue at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 6, but police could not locate the boy or the car.
To top that off, it seems 34-year-old Frank DeMichel of Roselle may have been celebrating his birthday a week early last weekend. The driver was treated at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital for undisclosed injuries he suffered when he drove his black car into a light pole at the southwest corner of East and Ogden avenues on the night of Sept. 5. Several 911 calls alerted police to the crash and the downed traffic light and DeMichel was arrested on charges of drunken driving and several other traffic violations.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
STEVE KNEIFEL BACK IN TOWN; OTHER NEWS
FIRST and foremost, we'd like to take the time to welcome back home La Grange Police Officer Steve Kneifel, who has spent the past nine months from his deployment with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.
Steve, who arrived home to take care of his wife and family a week or two ago, has been busy tending to family matters, but was back in action serving La Grange this week. His wife is ill and we wish her the best in her treatment and recovery.
The Police Department is giving him a big Welcome Home celebration with a party on Friday, Sept. 11 at the Robert Coulter American Legion Post in La Grange.
Stay tuned to this site for details.
In the meantime, anyone who would like to volunteer with the arrangements (or contribute food or provisions) is asked to call Police Chief Mike Holub or Jane Coleman at (708) 579-2333.
Now on to (less) important things, namely this week's police blotter:
There's been a spate of car burglaries, bicycle thefts and odd goings-on in La Grange including people hearing footsteps in their (haunted?) houses and one lady who claims hundreds of men are headed to town to get her. Oh well, the day in the life of a cop.
An employee of the Balkan Bakery (which we didn't even know existed), 541 S. La Grange Road, arrived for work shortly before 4 a.m. Sept. 2 to find the front door window busted. No entry was gained.
A 60-year-old resident in the 800 block of South Catherine Avenue reported to police that after she turned off her television for the night and headed to bed at about 11:45 p.m. Sept. 1, she heard footsteps on the second floor of her house. Police responded and found nothing disturbed.
.
However, oddly enough, a vehicle was burglarized, also in the 800 block of South Catherine, in the overnight hours of Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. The car was rifled through and change was stolen. Another vehicle, a Chevy Suburban, was burglarized as it was parked on the night of Aug. 28 in the 900 block of South Waiola Avenue.
Yet, even more strange were the claims of a 39-year-old woman in the 300 block of South Stone Avenue, who reported at 1:50 p.m. Aug. 31 that she heard footsteps in the upstairs of her house. Police again found no signs of entry and nothing disturbed.
A boy's red felt Heretic dirt bike with 20-inch wheels was stolen outside Cossitt School, 115 W. Cossitt Ave., sometime after 8 p.m. Aug. 29, it was reported two days later. The boy left it there unlocked and it was gone when he returned to retrieve it. That same weekend, a grey and red Schwinn boys mountain bike was reported stolen, but on Aug. 30. The theft, from the 600 block of South 8th Avenue, was reported at 4 p.m. the following day. And sometime between 10 p.m. Aug. 28 and 11 a.m. Aug. 2`9, a boys bike was ripped off from a yard in the 500 block of South Ashland Avenue.The black Fitbike, with 18-inch wheels, was valued at $250.
However, a boys red Schwinn Safari bicycle was found in front of a house in the first block of Drexel Avenue. Police picked it up the following day.
Word to the (un?)wise: If something of yours is stolen, report it missing immediately, not a day or two later.
Bad news
Unknown pranksters vandalized the grounds of Cossitt Elementary School over the weekend. The damage, discovered Aug. 30, included non-gang graffiti, beer bottles on the playground, drawings from colored wood chips in playground and fence supports removed from a pump near the playground. There was no permanent damage reported.
A resident of the 900 block of South Kensington Avenue said they caught a teenage boy going through their vehicle shortly before 3 a.m. Aug. 30. The boy, last seen walking away toward 52nd Street, was wearing a dark-colored jacket or shirt and shorts. Nothing was stolen.
A resident of the first block of South Ashland reported mail missing from his mailbox on Aug. 29.
A resident of the 700 block of Mason Drive reported Aug. 31 that over the past two months, her two vehicles have been damaged, once by being scratched over their entire surface and again when someone used a cigarette to burn the finish.
Bizarre behavior
Police could not make any arrests after a resident of the 500 block of South La Grange Road called at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 30 to report some upstairs tenants were throwing bricks -- yes, bricks -- at the building.
A resident of the first block of South 6th Avenue found small pieces of paper in front of his condominium with disturbing, rambling misspelled words referencing weapons, a female name and a DuPage County elementary school, a teacher and a specific date. Police forwarded the item to a regional police dispatch center.
Police are also investigating a report that a 14-year-old girl from the 500 block of South La Grange Road was dropped off at home by unknown men in an intoxicated state on Aug. 30. The girl's mother filed the report Aug. 30.
A student at Cossitt Elementary School, 115 W. Cossitt Ave., found a Ziploc-type bag containing a small amount of marijuana at the school, it was reported to police shortly after 4 p.m. Sept. 1. It was not known how it got there or to whom it belonged.
Over the course of two days and nights -- Aug. 30 and 31 -- a 37-year-old Bellwood woman tried to convince police that unknown men were out to get her and cause her and her children and other people's children harm. The claims started at 8:18 a.m. Aug. 30, when she called police from her mother's house in the 300 block of East Franklin Avenue to suggest friends of her ex-boyfriend threatened to "shoot up the place" and would arrive wearing blue, red or orange clothing. At about 8 p.m. that night, an anonymous caller believed to be the same woman told police some man was going to burn down her house and go to all the schools in La Grange to hurt kids, before she abruptly hung up. Her mother told police the daughter thought "hundreds of men" were after her, trying to hurt her. The following morning, her sister called to tell police the woman was at Cossitt School at 9 a.m. speaking to a social worker and to visit her children who are in the legal custody of her mother and sister. She returned an hour later, gave police eight license plate numbers and advised the men driving those cars were coming to the school. Earlier that morning, she contacted police to tell them "swarms of men" were coming to town to hurt children, wearing red, blue or orange clothing. Police could not locate any such people and found no order of protection barring the woman from school grounds. Hmm.
Fire calls
Firefighters extinguished an oven fire that broke out shortly before 1 p.m. Aug. 30 in the 600 block of Edgewood Lane.
Breaking news
A 34-year-old La Grange resident was one of two women shot at with BB-type guns as they walked down a Riverside street on the morning of Sept. 2 -- and police said the alleged offenders were four Riverside-Brookfield High School varsity football players.
The unidentified woman, who was the only one struck, sustained a large welt in her left hip and was treated at the scene by Riverside paramedics after they called police and provided a partial license plate number of a vehicle they witnessed driving away. The incident occurred about 11:30 a.m.
The other woman with her was not injured, but she told police she felt a pellet fly past her face, police said.
The students, whose names are being withheld until the investigation is complete, are all facing possible battery charges. At the time of their arrest, they were still wearing their football jerseys because they were at practice that morning.
The four teens had Airsoft guns in their possession, including one pistol and two rifles with orange tips on the barrels which fire hard, round plastic pellets, according to police. The fourth weapon looked like a shotgun and had no orange tip, said police, an indication they remarked could have made them return fire.
R-B students are still on summer vacation, and are scheduled to return to school next week due to ongoing building renovations.
Steve, who arrived home to take care of his wife and family a week or two ago, has been busy tending to family matters, but was back in action serving La Grange this week. His wife is ill and we wish her the best in her treatment and recovery.
The Police Department is giving him a big Welcome Home celebration with a party on Friday, Sept. 11 at the Robert Coulter American Legion Post in La Grange.
Stay tuned to this site for details.
In the meantime, anyone who would like to volunteer with the arrangements (or contribute food or provisions) is asked to call Police Chief Mike Holub or Jane Coleman at (708) 579-2333.
Now on to (less) important things, namely this week's police blotter:
There's been a spate of car burglaries, bicycle thefts and odd goings-on in La Grange including people hearing footsteps in their (haunted?) houses and one lady who claims hundreds of men are headed to town to get her. Oh well, the day in the life of a cop.
An employee of the Balkan Bakery (which we didn't even know existed), 541 S. La Grange Road, arrived for work shortly before 4 a.m. Sept. 2 to find the front door window busted. No entry was gained.
A 60-year-old resident in the 800 block of South Catherine Avenue reported to police that after she turned off her television for the night and headed to bed at about 11:45 p.m. Sept. 1, she heard footsteps on the second floor of her house. Police responded and found nothing disturbed.
.
However, oddly enough, a vehicle was burglarized, also in the 800 block of South Catherine, in the overnight hours of Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. The car was rifled through and change was stolen. Another vehicle, a Chevy Suburban, was burglarized as it was parked on the night of Aug. 28 in the 900 block of South Waiola Avenue.
Yet, even more strange were the claims of a 39-year-old woman in the 300 block of South Stone Avenue, who reported at 1:50 p.m. Aug. 31 that she heard footsteps in the upstairs of her house. Police again found no signs of entry and nothing disturbed.
A boy's red felt Heretic dirt bike with 20-inch wheels was stolen outside Cossitt School, 115 W. Cossitt Ave., sometime after 8 p.m. Aug. 29, it was reported two days later. The boy left it there unlocked and it was gone when he returned to retrieve it. That same weekend, a grey and red Schwinn boys mountain bike was reported stolen, but on Aug. 30. The theft, from the 600 block of South 8th Avenue, was reported at 4 p.m. the following day. And sometime between 10 p.m. Aug. 28 and 11 a.m. Aug. 2`9, a boys bike was ripped off from a yard in the 500 block of South Ashland Avenue.The black Fitbike, with 18-inch wheels, was valued at $250.
However, a boys red Schwinn Safari bicycle was found in front of a house in the first block of Drexel Avenue. Police picked it up the following day.
Word to the (un?)wise: If something of yours is stolen, report it missing immediately, not a day or two later.
Bad news
Unknown pranksters vandalized the grounds of Cossitt Elementary School over the weekend. The damage, discovered Aug. 30, included non-gang graffiti, beer bottles on the playground, drawings from colored wood chips in playground and fence supports removed from a pump near the playground. There was no permanent damage reported.
A resident of the 900 block of South Kensington Avenue said they caught a teenage boy going through their vehicle shortly before 3 a.m. Aug. 30. The boy, last seen walking away toward 52nd Street, was wearing a dark-colored jacket or shirt and shorts. Nothing was stolen.
A resident of the first block of South Ashland reported mail missing from his mailbox on Aug. 29.
A resident of the 700 block of Mason Drive reported Aug. 31 that over the past two months, her two vehicles have been damaged, once by being scratched over their entire surface and again when someone used a cigarette to burn the finish.
Bizarre behavior
Police could not make any arrests after a resident of the 500 block of South La Grange Road called at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 30 to report some upstairs tenants were throwing bricks -- yes, bricks -- at the building.
A resident of the first block of South 6th Avenue found small pieces of paper in front of his condominium with disturbing, rambling misspelled words referencing weapons, a female name and a DuPage County elementary school, a teacher and a specific date. Police forwarded the item to a regional police dispatch center.
Police are also investigating a report that a 14-year-old girl from the 500 block of South La Grange Road was dropped off at home by unknown men in an intoxicated state on Aug. 30. The girl's mother filed the report Aug. 30.
A student at Cossitt Elementary School, 115 W. Cossitt Ave., found a Ziploc-type bag containing a small amount of marijuana at the school, it was reported to police shortly after 4 p.m. Sept. 1. It was not known how it got there or to whom it belonged.
Over the course of two days and nights -- Aug. 30 and 31 -- a 37-year-old Bellwood woman tried to convince police that unknown men were out to get her and cause her and her children and other people's children harm. The claims started at 8:18 a.m. Aug. 30, when she called police from her mother's house in the 300 block of East Franklin Avenue to suggest friends of her ex-boyfriend threatened to "shoot up the place" and would arrive wearing blue, red or orange clothing. At about 8 p.m. that night, an anonymous caller believed to be the same woman told police some man was going to burn down her house and go to all the schools in La Grange to hurt kids, before she abruptly hung up. Her mother told police the daughter thought "hundreds of men" were after her, trying to hurt her. The following morning, her sister called to tell police the woman was at Cossitt School at 9 a.m. speaking to a social worker and to visit her children who are in the legal custody of her mother and sister. She returned an hour later, gave police eight license plate numbers and advised the men driving those cars were coming to the school. Earlier that morning, she contacted police to tell them "swarms of men" were coming to town to hurt children, wearing red, blue or orange clothing. Police could not locate any such people and found no order of protection barring the woman from school grounds. Hmm.
Fire calls
Firefighters extinguished an oven fire that broke out shortly before 1 p.m. Aug. 30 in the 600 block of Edgewood Lane.
Breaking news
A 34-year-old La Grange resident was one of two women shot at with BB-type guns as they walked down a Riverside street on the morning of Sept. 2 -- and police said the alleged offenders were four Riverside-Brookfield High School varsity football players.
The unidentified woman, who was the only one struck, sustained a large welt in her left hip and was treated at the scene by Riverside paramedics after they called police and provided a partial license plate number of a vehicle they witnessed driving away. The incident occurred about 11:30 a.m.
The other woman with her was not injured, but she told police she felt a pellet fly past her face, police said.
The students, whose names are being withheld until the investigation is complete, are all facing possible battery charges. At the time of their arrest, they were still wearing their football jerseys because they were at practice that morning.
The four teens had Airsoft guns in their possession, including one pistol and two rifles with orange tips on the barrels which fire hard, round plastic pellets, according to police. The fourth weapon looked like a shotgun and had no orange tip, said police, an indication they remarked could have made them return fire.
R-B students are still on summer vacation, and are scheduled to return to school next week due to ongoing building renovations.
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