Four people have been arrested over the past month by the La Grange police in connection with a series of residential burglaries.
As a result, more than 100 pieces of property have been recovered.
In each case, arrests were made because of observant residents who called in reports of a suspicious person, vehicle, noise or activity -- which we reported on in this very space last week, encouraging residents to continue to call 911 whenever they suspect anything is awry.
Now, the village is reminding you as well.
The increase in home burglaries in La Grange since June or July is not limited to La Grange, stated Police Chief Michael Holub, whose investigators have not only worked with their peers in neighboring communities to crack similar or related crimes there, but are aware of dozens of burglaries in such neighboring communities as Brookfield, La Grange Park and Western Springs.
Although no residential burglaries occurred in La Grange this week, its investigators did assist Brookfield police in a break-in within the 4000 block of Forest Avenue reported at 11:35 a.m. Oct. 26.
A prime example of resident vigilance occurred earlier this week, for instance, on Oct. 26, when a South Madison Avenue homeowner witnessed a silver vehicle with four men of possibly Indian descent attempting to break into vehicles near Cossitt and Madison avenues.
Although police did not find any vehicles damaged or disturbed when they arrived, when the seeming offenders were seen, they took off down westbound 47th Street from Madison at a high rate of speed.
One of the men sported a full beard and the vehicle had heavy damage on its driver's side.
So, while nobody was busted that time, calling 911 quickly and with as accurate as possible descriptions of suspicious persons or vehicles is the best decision someone can make.
Body found
Although certainly not a burglary, another alert 911 caller told police they found a white woman with blonde hair and wearing a brown jacket, blue jeans and white shoes laying in the dirt at Tilden and Calendar avenues at about 2:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Although further details of the report have not yet been confirmed, the caller indicated the woman was shaking and still breathing, but could not be revived.
On a lighter note, La Grange police were alerted to a suspicious white man walking down the 1200 block of South Brainard Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. Oct. 27. The man, with salt-and-pepper hair, wearing dark clothing and carrying paperwork, appeared by a passerby to be highly intoxicated. The case was turned over to the proper jurisdiction, the Countryside PD.
Burglaries, thefts and vandalism
An unidentified piece of equipment was discovered stolen from the La Grange Public Library, 10 W. Cossitt Ave., the library director reported to police at 11:27 a.m. Oct. 26.
An unlocked vehicle was broken into as it was parked at the North campus of Lyons Township High School, it was reported at 6:13 p.m. Oct. 27.
A purse was reported stolen from a vehicle parked at Park and Cossitt avenues at about 9:15 p.m., while the vehicle owner's son was at school.
Eek! A large spider valued at $30 was reported stolen from the front porch of a home in the 100 block of South 8th Avenue. The report was filed with police at 10:05 a.m. Oct. 27.
A customer of John's Auto Body, 26 E. Plainfield Road, alleged at 6:24 p.m. Oct. 26 that several items were stolen from a truck they were having repaired at the shop the prior week, even though the vehicle sat unlocked on a Chicago street for a day before it was towed from where it had been involved in an an accident and then towed to La Grange from there. Although the truck owner told police they believed the theft took place here, police advised the owner to file a report with Chicago police.
A vehicle was reported damaged Oct. 25 as it was parked in the 100 block of North Peck Avenue.
A light post in front of Anna's Hallmark, 10 W. Burlington Ave., was vandalized with "non gang-related" Halloween graffiti, it was reported at 9:21 a.m. Oct. 26.
A portable toilet in a driveway in the 900 block of South Spring Avenue had been dumped over twice since Oct. 23, a resident reported to police at 4:55 p.m. Oct. 25.
People crimes and cases
A woman driving a tan Oldsmobile registered in Brookfield requested a special watch due to a threat she received in the way of text messages on her cell phone, but then refused to provide any other information besides her first name or wait for an officer to arrive before she drove off. Police were unable to locate the woman, who said she works at a business in the 300 block of Washington Avenue.
The superintendent's administrative assistant in School District 105 was treated for a knee injury at Adventist La Grange Hospital after she fell on school grounds at 1001 S. Spring Ave. about 4:30 p.m. Oct. 26. A 911 call alerted paramedics to the accident involving Denise Struve, 57, of Hodgkins, after it was believed she may have broken a kneecap.
Medical assistance was refused by the mother of an 11-year-old La Grange boy who was reported jumped by two male blacks as he left the La Grange Community Center at Lincoln and Washington avenues at around 3 p.m. Oct. 25.
An African-American man was reported to be sleeping in the La Grange Post Office, 121 W. Hillgrove Ave. at 10:15 p.m. Oct. 25, but police found a 44-year-old woman asleep there before sending her on her way.
Fire calls
La Grange firefighters responded to a report of an interior gas leak at a home in the 700 block of South Spring Avenue just before 8:30 a.m. Oct. 26.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
'SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY' COULD BE CRIME
Not much crime going on but lots of "suspicious activity" being reported this past week in and around La Grange -- but that doesn't always mean nothing's going on. In fact, it's the sign of alert and observant neighbors, who call the cops whenever they suspect something's awry. Unfortunately, some calls turn out to be false alarms: the would-be suspicious-looking people are gone on arrival or are unable to be located.
Then again, there's the time when a west suburban homeowner told police she thought she saw a few suspicious-looking men with headwear standing next to a corner house up the street. Police responded and found the "men" to be statues of the Three Wise Men. Or last week's report of a La Grange resident who mistook a boy with a toy sword for a suspicious man pacing back and forth with the real thing.
Still, while we all make mistakes, calling 911 is never a bad idea. Sometimes, a call means a solved crime or the arrest of an offender.
Such was the case of a resident in the 300 block of South Kensington Avenue, who thought they heard someone trying to enter their back door shortly at about 11:15 p.m. Oct. 17, even though a rear gate was latched and the back door was locked . Police arrived to find the exterior of the house secure and no signs of an attempted break-in.
Or, for example, the resident in the 400 block of South Stone Avenue who told police they believe they witnessed a drug deal taking place in Elm Park at about 1:25 p.m. Oct. 17. The caller, whose report was delayed by 15 minutes, said he saw a man with a Navy blue top, white lounge pants and blonde hair sitting in the park when a 2-door older tan hatchback pulled up northbound Stone. Its driver got out and the two walked together up northbound Stone and exchanged a plastic bag, before the driver returned to his vehicle and drove off north on Stone. The other man walked down southbound Stone before turning into a yard near Maple Avenue. Neither man could not be located by police, but a special watch was assigned to the area.
A day earlier, an employee of Trader Joe's, 25 N. La Grange Road, reported seeing a man looking in car windows behind the store at about 7 p.m. that night. The suspicious man, who also was not tracked down, was wearing a dark ski mask, glasses and a blue and white jacket.
A very alert employee of Starbucks, 38 S. La Grange Road, told police they noticed a regular customer in the store shortly before 9 p.m. Oct. 16 who appeared to be touching himself as he stared at a group of teenage girls. Police could not locate the man.
In yet another case, police were called to the 100 block of Washington Avenue at 9:44 p.m. Oct. 16 to investigate a 911 call from an 18-year-old La Grange man who said he was approached by five males, one in a red jacket and another in black shorts, who came up to him with a bicycle and told him they found his bike and threatened to hit him. However, while he said he does not own a bike, he was suspicious they may steal something from him.
A 38-year-old resident in the 400 block of East Maple Avenue told police a young man with sandy blonde hair and wearing a vest came to her house at about 8 a.m. Oct. 16 and identified himself as a ComEd employee, telling her the utility needed to work in her backyard. But ComEd informed her they had nobody in the area that day. The man took off in an unknown direction and was not located by police.
A resident in the 200 block of Leitch Avenue reported to police shortly after 5 p.m. Oct. 14 they found empty beer cans and bottles in a nearby athletic field and requested a special watch on weekends because they believe kids may be drinking there at night.
Not much crime, remember?
A boy's wallet was reported stolen from a locker in the North campus of Lyons Township High School, 100 S. Brainard Ave., on Oct. 20. The report was filed with police at about 4:30 p.m. that day.
A tire was reported stolen in the 600 block of South La Grange Road on Oct. 17, it was reported the morning of Oct. 19.
Nine BB holes were discovered in a garage in the 400 block of Benton Avenue shortly before 2 p.m. Oct. 19. However, a 24-year-old neighbor who recently had his gun confiscated by his father was considered a suspect.
A 32-year-old La Grange man, David Bennett of 19 Hayes, was arrested for domestic battery after his live-in girlfriend, also 32, was transported to La Grange Adventist Hospital for an injured shoulder shortly after midnight Oct. 20. Their 10-month-old daughter was turned over to the custody of a Chicago couple.
A homeless couple was cited for open alcohol after police said the two were caught drinking alcohol on the Hillgrove side of the La Grange Road train depot at 7:10 p.m. Oct. 19. The citation was issued to 51-year-old Michael Bates and 55-year-old Mary Zimmerman. A day earlier, police said Zimmerman was picked up at 125 N. La Grange Road shortly before 7 p.m. and transported to Loyola University Medical Center because she was feeling suicidal.
Etcetera, etc.
Besides that darn loose dog wreaking havoc and chasing mail carriers on South Hayes Avenue of late, there's the guy angering neighbors for letting his two pit pulls defecate in an empty lot at Maple and Bluff avenues without cleaning up after them. Then there's the panhandlers hanging out at 7-Eleven, the evening basketball players at Sedgwick and nighttime softball players at Gordon harassing Park District employees and refusing to leave their respective parks at closing time, the college student producing a film behind Village Hall with real toy guns (police got advance notice of that one), the kids loitering and pulling the panic alarm in the downtown parking deck, the Brookfield woman who police said they caught lying when she claimed her car was struck in the deck when really she rear-ended someone else earlier that day at 31st Street and La Grange Road in La Grange Park -- and the very nice gentleman at Gurrie Middle School, 1001 S. Spring Ave., who at around 7 a.m. Oct. 16, turned into police a lawn chair and scarecrow Halloween decoration reported stolen from a resident in the 900 block of Stone Avenue (see last week's theft reports).
Other than that ...
A 5-year-old girl was treated at Hinsdale Adventist Hospital after she was vomiting and experiencing a possible seizure at around 11 a.m. Oct. 20 at St. John's Church, 505 S. Park Road.
La Grange Park firefighters responded to a smell of natural gas in the 600 block of North Edgewood Lane shortly before 2 p.m. Oct. 20.
A 1-year-old boy was treated at La Grange Adventist Hospital after having seizures in the first block of Park Road at about 3:45 p.m. Oct. 19.
Til' next week, that's all folks!
Then again, there's the time when a west suburban homeowner told police she thought she saw a few suspicious-looking men with headwear standing next to a corner house up the street. Police responded and found the "men" to be statues of the Three Wise Men. Or last week's report of a La Grange resident who mistook a boy with a toy sword for a suspicious man pacing back and forth with the real thing.
Still, while we all make mistakes, calling 911 is never a bad idea. Sometimes, a call means a solved crime or the arrest of an offender.
Such was the case of a resident in the 300 block of South Kensington Avenue, who thought they heard someone trying to enter their back door shortly at about 11:15 p.m. Oct. 17, even though a rear gate was latched and the back door was locked . Police arrived to find the exterior of the house secure and no signs of an attempted break-in.
Or, for example, the resident in the 400 block of South Stone Avenue who told police they believe they witnessed a drug deal taking place in Elm Park at about 1:25 p.m. Oct. 17. The caller, whose report was delayed by 15 minutes, said he saw a man with a Navy blue top, white lounge pants and blonde hair sitting in the park when a 2-door older tan hatchback pulled up northbound Stone. Its driver got out and the two walked together up northbound Stone and exchanged a plastic bag, before the driver returned to his vehicle and drove off north on Stone. The other man walked down southbound Stone before turning into a yard near Maple Avenue. Neither man could not be located by police, but a special watch was assigned to the area.
A day earlier, an employee of Trader Joe's, 25 N. La Grange Road, reported seeing a man looking in car windows behind the store at about 7 p.m. that night. The suspicious man, who also was not tracked down, was wearing a dark ski mask, glasses and a blue and white jacket.
A very alert employee of Starbucks, 38 S. La Grange Road, told police they noticed a regular customer in the store shortly before 9 p.m. Oct. 16 who appeared to be touching himself as he stared at a group of teenage girls. Police could not locate the man.
In yet another case, police were called to the 100 block of Washington Avenue at 9:44 p.m. Oct. 16 to investigate a 911 call from an 18-year-old La Grange man who said he was approached by five males, one in a red jacket and another in black shorts, who came up to him with a bicycle and told him they found his bike and threatened to hit him. However, while he said he does not own a bike, he was suspicious they may steal something from him.
A 38-year-old resident in the 400 block of East Maple Avenue told police a young man with sandy blonde hair and wearing a vest came to her house at about 8 a.m. Oct. 16 and identified himself as a ComEd employee, telling her the utility needed to work in her backyard. But ComEd informed her they had nobody in the area that day. The man took off in an unknown direction and was not located by police.
A resident in the 200 block of Leitch Avenue reported to police shortly after 5 p.m. Oct. 14 they found empty beer cans and bottles in a nearby athletic field and requested a special watch on weekends because they believe kids may be drinking there at night.
Not much crime, remember?
A boy's wallet was reported stolen from a locker in the North campus of Lyons Township High School, 100 S. Brainard Ave., on Oct. 20. The report was filed with police at about 4:30 p.m. that day.
A tire was reported stolen in the 600 block of South La Grange Road on Oct. 17, it was reported the morning of Oct. 19.
Nine BB holes were discovered in a garage in the 400 block of Benton Avenue shortly before 2 p.m. Oct. 19. However, a 24-year-old neighbor who recently had his gun confiscated by his father was considered a suspect.
A 32-year-old La Grange man, David Bennett of 19 Hayes, was arrested for domestic battery after his live-in girlfriend, also 32, was transported to La Grange Adventist Hospital for an injured shoulder shortly after midnight Oct. 20. Their 10-month-old daughter was turned over to the custody of a Chicago couple.
A homeless couple was cited for open alcohol after police said the two were caught drinking alcohol on the Hillgrove side of the La Grange Road train depot at 7:10 p.m. Oct. 19. The citation was issued to 51-year-old Michael Bates and 55-year-old Mary Zimmerman. A day earlier, police said Zimmerman was picked up at 125 N. La Grange Road shortly before 7 p.m. and transported to Loyola University Medical Center because she was feeling suicidal.
Etcetera, etc.
Besides that darn loose dog wreaking havoc and chasing mail carriers on South Hayes Avenue of late, there's the guy angering neighbors for letting his two pit pulls defecate in an empty lot at Maple and Bluff avenues without cleaning up after them. Then there's the panhandlers hanging out at 7-Eleven, the evening basketball players at Sedgwick and nighttime softball players at Gordon harassing Park District employees and refusing to leave their respective parks at closing time, the college student producing a film behind Village Hall with real toy guns (police got advance notice of that one), the kids loitering and pulling the panic alarm in the downtown parking deck, the Brookfield woman who police said they caught lying when she claimed her car was struck in the deck when really she rear-ended someone else earlier that day at 31st Street and La Grange Road in La Grange Park -- and the very nice gentleman at Gurrie Middle School, 1001 S. Spring Ave., who at around 7 a.m. Oct. 16, turned into police a lawn chair and scarecrow Halloween decoration reported stolen from a resident in the 900 block of Stone Avenue (see last week's theft reports).
Other than that ...
A 5-year-old girl was treated at Hinsdale Adventist Hospital after she was vomiting and experiencing a possible seizure at around 11 a.m. Oct. 20 at St. John's Church, 505 S. Park Road.
La Grange Park firefighters responded to a smell of natural gas in the 600 block of North Edgewood Lane shortly before 2 p.m. Oct. 20.
A 1-year-old boy was treated at La Grange Adventist Hospital after having seizures in the first block of Park Road at about 3:45 p.m. Oct. 19.
Til' next week, that's all folks!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
RESIDENT THWARTS WOULD-BE BURGLAR
A resident in the 800 block of South La Grange Road almost caught a car burglar before he broke into a Subaru and a Honda by unknown means shortly after 1:30 a.m. Oct. 14. The male subject, described as a white man in his 20s with shaggy hair and a thin build and wearing dark clothing and a possible windbreaker type jacket, was last seen running eastbound on 51st Street and southbound on La Grange Road.
Other break-ins, thefts, failed tries
A grey backpack containing text books, XBox controllers with a rechargeable cord, an IPod and a spiral notebook worth an estimated $175 were reported stolen from an unlocked vehicle belonging to a 23-year-old man in the 900 block of South Madison Avenue shortly after 4 p.m. Oct. 12.
Miscellaneous items were stolen from an unlocked car in the A200 block of South Ashland Avenue, it was reported to police at about 11:30 a.m. Oct. 11.
A lawn chair and straw decoration on display for Halloween in the front yard of a home in the 900 block of South Stone Avenue was reported stolen sometime between the night of Oct. 9 and about 9:45 a.m. Oct. 10.
A customer at Borders, 1 N. La Grange Road, told police she was pickpocketed from someone inside the store sometime before 10:50 a.m. Oct. 8. She said she did not see who did it.
A wallet was reported stolen Oct. 7 at Lyons Township High School, 100 S. Brainard Ave.
Police recovered an unoccupied vehicle in the behind a home in the 400 block of East Avenue that came back stolen out of Buffalo, N.Y., at about 4 p.m. Oct. 10.
False alarm
Five teens were issued local ordinance tickets for loitering after they were found allegedly playing with a panic alarm on the first floor of the parking deck downtown. They include Tikira Kirk, 16, of La Grange; Wendy Mora, 15, of La Grange; Marc Herns, 16, of La Grange; Cynthyia Actame, 15, of La Grange and Dobson LaKeith, 15, of Niles.
Odd, but true
A 53-year-old Cicero man in a blue jacket was awoken by police after he was reported sleeping on the volleyball court at Sedgwick Park, 47th Street and East Avenue, shortly after 11 a.m. Oct. 11. And shortly after 10 p.m. Oct. 9, two homeless men in their 40s laying in an alley in the first block of La Grange Road.
A boy with a toy was mistaken for a suspicious man pacing back and forth and wielding a possible sword in the 300 block of Waiola Avenue on the afternoon of Oct. 11.
A fake human leg was stolen from a decorative skeleton on display for Halloween on the front lawn of a house in the 1000 block of South Spring Avenue sometime between the night of Oct. 9 and 9:40 a.m. Oct. 10.
Boy, the things that make it to the blotter. Someone actually complained to police because a man was seen walking his pit bull near Bluff and Maple avenues and not picking up after the dog. Oh my!
Last but not least comes the suspicious 40-year-old fella in the 700 block of 9th Avenue who was spotted by someone sitting in a dark vehicle on the south side of 50th Street at 9th, facing the wrong direction, shortly after 5:45 a.m. Oct. 8. Turns out he was the owner of the vehicle who lived nearby and decided to sit in waiting keeping watch on his own house for an unknown culprit who keeps allowing their dog to defecate on his lawn.
Vandalism
A resident in the 100 block of North Park Avenue reported finding gang graffiti on his garage at 5:22 p.m. Oct. 13.
A large group of kids were also dispersed by police as they congregated at the fountain adjacent to Village Hall in the first block of La Grange Road shortly before 9 p.m. Oct. 12. An unknown offender in the crowd was believed to have placed soap in the fountain as well. The fountain was also discovered soaped at 9:35 p.m. that night, causing officials to shut it down.
A vehicle was reported egged between 10:30 a.m. Oct. 11 and 11:13 a.m. Oct. 12 in the 100 block of Washington Avenue.
A car window was reported broken in the 200 block of East Plainfield Road at about 7:15 p.m. Oct. 9.
Both passenger side tires of a vehicle were slashed as it was in the parking lot of Grayhill, 561 W. Hillgrove Ave., it was reported at 2:28 p.m. Oct. 7. The victim told police they believe a fellow employee was the suspect, but doesn't want to press charges at this time.
Lots of suspicious activity
A 24-year-old man was accused of setting fires outside of a house in the 400 block of Benton, the latest report phoned into police on the afternoon of Oct. 13. The man apparently agreed to stop, but showed up again that day with a yellow bottle of possible flammable liquid.
Someone's unattended wheelchair was discovered without a rider against a fence at the North campus soccer field of Lyons Township High School at Park and Elm avenues at 6:35 p.m. Oct. 12.
A screen was reported missing from a window of a vacant house in the 200 block of East Avenue and the inside lights were discovered on at 9:20 p.m. Oct. 13, when the house is normally dark and the screens are in place.
A dog with a collar around its neck was reported running loose twice in one day on the village's East Side, but was gone when police responded to calls during the morning and afternoon Oct. 13. The morning report was made by a mail carrier at Washington and Sawyer avenues; the first caller saw the dog running around by Tilden and Franklin avenues. The dog is believed to be a pet from the first block of Hayes Avenue.
A heavy-set Latino man wearing a spring jacket and hat tried to enter someone's house in the 500 block of South 8th Avenue at about 4 p.m. Oct. 8. He told the homeowner he had to dig in his backyard when no such work was scheduled. The resident closed the door on him and he left.
Gas smells, fires
A natural gas leak was discovered at a meter behind a house in the 600 block of South Waiola Avenue shortly before 10:45 a.m. Oct. 13. Nicor was notified. A gas odor was also discovered inside stores in the 100 block of West Calendar Court on the afternoon of Oct. 12 and painters were found to be working in vacant storefront. The workers were told to stop painting for a while. And at 3:40 p.m. Oct. 11, Nicor also was called out to take care of a leak when someone smelled gas in the 200 block of South Brainard Avenue.
Several subjects were sent on their way without charges after someone reported they started a fire under the Ogden Avenue bridge shortly after 8 p.m. Oct. 12.
Firefighters extinguished a laundry room fire in the 300 block of South Kensington Avenue called in to police at 7:58 p.m. Oct. 10.
Firefighters also responded to a mutual aid call from Western Springs of a smell of electrical wiring burning inside a home in the 4700 block of Wolf Road. The source was a faulty wall outlet.
Vagrancy violators
A white man and white woman were reported trying to shake down people for money outside of the 7-Eleven, 201 W. Hillgrove Ave., at about 11:20 p.m. Oct. 11. The vagrants were gone by the time police arrived.
People crimes
A 14-year-old Aurora boy was released without charges to the custody of his aunt after police said he crossed the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks with the gates down on northbound La Grange Road at Burlington Avenue about 5:30 p.m. Oct. 9.
A special watch was placed on a house in the 100 block of East Avenue where an unknown man put two mattresses under the porch in the rear of a bank-owned house. The caller, who discovered the beds at about 1 p.m. Oct. 9, told police they feared someone may be planning to set the house on fire. Or, perhaps, sleep there?
Other break-ins, thefts, failed tries
A grey backpack containing text books, XBox controllers with a rechargeable cord, an IPod and a spiral notebook worth an estimated $175 were reported stolen from an unlocked vehicle belonging to a 23-year-old man in the 900 block of South Madison Avenue shortly after 4 p.m. Oct. 12.
Miscellaneous items were stolen from an unlocked car in the A200 block of South Ashland Avenue, it was reported to police at about 11:30 a.m. Oct. 11.
A lawn chair and straw decoration on display for Halloween in the front yard of a home in the 900 block of South Stone Avenue was reported stolen sometime between the night of Oct. 9 and about 9:45 a.m. Oct. 10.
A customer at Borders, 1 N. La Grange Road, told police she was pickpocketed from someone inside the store sometime before 10:50 a.m. Oct. 8. She said she did not see who did it.
A wallet was reported stolen Oct. 7 at Lyons Township High School, 100 S. Brainard Ave.
Police recovered an unoccupied vehicle in the behind a home in the 400 block of East Avenue that came back stolen out of Buffalo, N.Y., at about 4 p.m. Oct. 10.
False alarm
Five teens were issued local ordinance tickets for loitering after they were found allegedly playing with a panic alarm on the first floor of the parking deck downtown. They include Tikira Kirk, 16, of La Grange; Wendy Mora, 15, of La Grange; Marc Herns, 16, of La Grange; Cynthyia Actame, 15, of La Grange and Dobson LaKeith, 15, of Niles.
Odd, but true
A 53-year-old Cicero man in a blue jacket was awoken by police after he was reported sleeping on the volleyball court at Sedgwick Park, 47th Street and East Avenue, shortly after 11 a.m. Oct. 11. And shortly after 10 p.m. Oct. 9, two homeless men in their 40s laying in an alley in the first block of La Grange Road.
A boy with a toy was mistaken for a suspicious man pacing back and forth and wielding a possible sword in the 300 block of Waiola Avenue on the afternoon of Oct. 11.
A fake human leg was stolen from a decorative skeleton on display for Halloween on the front lawn of a house in the 1000 block of South Spring Avenue sometime between the night of Oct. 9 and 9:40 a.m. Oct. 10.
Boy, the things that make it to the blotter. Someone actually complained to police because a man was seen walking his pit bull near Bluff and Maple avenues and not picking up after the dog. Oh my!
Last but not least comes the suspicious 40-year-old fella in the 700 block of 9th Avenue who was spotted by someone sitting in a dark vehicle on the south side of 50th Street at 9th, facing the wrong direction, shortly after 5:45 a.m. Oct. 8. Turns out he was the owner of the vehicle who lived nearby and decided to sit in waiting keeping watch on his own house for an unknown culprit who keeps allowing their dog to defecate on his lawn.
Vandalism
A resident in the 100 block of North Park Avenue reported finding gang graffiti on his garage at 5:22 p.m. Oct. 13.
A large group of kids were also dispersed by police as they congregated at the fountain adjacent to Village Hall in the first block of La Grange Road shortly before 9 p.m. Oct. 12. An unknown offender in the crowd was believed to have placed soap in the fountain as well. The fountain was also discovered soaped at 9:35 p.m. that night, causing officials to shut it down.
A vehicle was reported egged between 10:30 a.m. Oct. 11 and 11:13 a.m. Oct. 12 in the 100 block of Washington Avenue.
A car window was reported broken in the 200 block of East Plainfield Road at about 7:15 p.m. Oct. 9.
Both passenger side tires of a vehicle were slashed as it was in the parking lot of Grayhill, 561 W. Hillgrove Ave., it was reported at 2:28 p.m. Oct. 7. The victim told police they believe a fellow employee was the suspect, but doesn't want to press charges at this time.
Lots of suspicious activity
A 24-year-old man was accused of setting fires outside of a house in the 400 block of Benton, the latest report phoned into police on the afternoon of Oct. 13. The man apparently agreed to stop, but showed up again that day with a yellow bottle of possible flammable liquid.
Someone's unattended wheelchair was discovered without a rider against a fence at the North campus soccer field of Lyons Township High School at Park and Elm avenues at 6:35 p.m. Oct. 12.
A screen was reported missing from a window of a vacant house in the 200 block of East Avenue and the inside lights were discovered on at 9:20 p.m. Oct. 13, when the house is normally dark and the screens are in place.
A dog with a collar around its neck was reported running loose twice in one day on the village's East Side, but was gone when police responded to calls during the morning and afternoon Oct. 13. The morning report was made by a mail carrier at Washington and Sawyer avenues; the first caller saw the dog running around by Tilden and Franklin avenues. The dog is believed to be a pet from the first block of Hayes Avenue.
A heavy-set Latino man wearing a spring jacket and hat tried to enter someone's house in the 500 block of South 8th Avenue at about 4 p.m. Oct. 8. He told the homeowner he had to dig in his backyard when no such work was scheduled. The resident closed the door on him and he left.
Gas smells, fires
A natural gas leak was discovered at a meter behind a house in the 600 block of South Waiola Avenue shortly before 10:45 a.m. Oct. 13. Nicor was notified. A gas odor was also discovered inside stores in the 100 block of West Calendar Court on the afternoon of Oct. 12 and painters were found to be working in vacant storefront. The workers were told to stop painting for a while. And at 3:40 p.m. Oct. 11, Nicor also was called out to take care of a leak when someone smelled gas in the 200 block of South Brainard Avenue.
Several subjects were sent on their way without charges after someone reported they started a fire under the Ogden Avenue bridge shortly after 8 p.m. Oct. 12.
Firefighters extinguished a laundry room fire in the 300 block of South Kensington Avenue called in to police at 7:58 p.m. Oct. 10.
Firefighters also responded to a mutual aid call from Western Springs of a smell of electrical wiring burning inside a home in the 4700 block of Wolf Road. The source was a faulty wall outlet.
Vagrancy violators
A white man and white woman were reported trying to shake down people for money outside of the 7-Eleven, 201 W. Hillgrove Ave., at about 11:20 p.m. Oct. 11. The vagrants were gone by the time police arrived.
People crimes
A 14-year-old Aurora boy was released without charges to the custody of his aunt after police said he crossed the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks with the gates down on northbound La Grange Road at Burlington Avenue about 5:30 p.m. Oct. 9.
A special watch was placed on a house in the 100 block of East Avenue where an unknown man put two mattresses under the porch in the rear of a bank-owned house. The caller, who discovered the beds at about 1 p.m. Oct. 9, told police they feared someone may be planning to set the house on fire. Or, perhaps, sleep there?
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
ARMED ROBBERY ON EAST SIDE STREET
A 20-year-old La Grange woman was robbed of an unknown amount of cash by a man wearing a black ski mask and black clothing as she and a friend walked in the 100 block of Sawyer Avenue at 3:10 p.m. Oct. 2.
Police said the victim reported she was robbed when the suspect implied he had a gun and demanded money.
The woman gave the man her money, but the offender did not confront the man. Neither were harmed.
The offender, a 6-foot-tall African-American man with a medium build, was last seen on foot near Cossitt Avenue after running through several adjacent residential yards.
Although no arrests have been made, reports indicated two subjects were seen running into a home in the first block of Washington Avenue. One had an unidentified object in his hand.
Onto other things
Besides that, there weren't many other serious crimes reported in the past week, perhaps because autumn is quickly settling in with cold temps and blustery winds.
Not too many trees or limbs were reported down following the unusually high winds on the night of Oct. 6, except a few near 51st Street and Brainard Avenue and in the 100 block of Ashland Avenue.
Slippery when wet
Last week's rains caused a few fender-benders, not the least of which was a single-car accident that interrupted traffic for a bit on the evening of Oct. 3 at La Grange Road and 47th Street. Seems Jared Johnson, 17, of 5120 Fair Elms, Western Springs was attempting a left turn in the intersection onto westbound 47th at about 8:30 p.m. when he lost control of the 2003 Honda Accord he was driving and struck a light pole in the parkway after he slid on the wet pavement. His two teenage passengers were not hurt, but he was transported to La Grange Adventist Hospital for treatment of his injuries. No tickets were issued in the crash.
Burglaries and thefts
A bicycle was reported stolen from an unlocked garage in the 300 block of South Stone Avenue shortly before 6 p.m. Oct. 4. Two days later, at about 9:30 p.m. Oct. 6, another bicycle was reported stolen from outside the La Grange Road train station, 25 W. Burlington Ave., as it was locked up on the north side of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks. Yet another bicycle was stolen from outside Horton's, 60 S. La Grange Road, on the night of Oct. 1. The GT mountain bike, reported stolen at 1 p.m. Oct. 2, was maroon with white lettering. It was not indicated whether the bike was locked at the time.
A license plate sticker was reported stolen in La Grange or Chicago at 6 p.m. Oct. 3. The owner of the vehicle lives in the 600 block of South Catherine Avenue.
The front door of a vacant house for sale in the 600 block of South Spring Avenue was discovered open shortly before 10 a.m. Oct. 4. It was not known if entry was gained.
A Latino man age 25 to 30 and wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt was seen trying to pry open a first floor window of an apartment in the 900 block of South 8th Avenue shortly after 11:30 p.m. Oct. 2. Police responded and were unable to locate the man. No entry was gained.
Vandalism
A 911 caller informed police a group of kids were throwing eggs at cars at Ogden and Waiola avenues at about 9:30 p.m. Oct. 6. But they were gone by the time an officer arrived.
The passenger side quarter panel of a gold Yukon was keyed by an unknown vandal as it was parked in the first block of West Hillgrove Avenue, it was reported at 11:41 a.m. Oct. 2. The vandalism occurred sometime between Sept. 18 and 25.
Blaze news
No injuries were reported when La Grange firefighters responded to a report of a possible grill fire on a balcony next to a building in the first block of Ashland Avenue at 4:35 p.m. Oct. 4. In La Grange Park, firefighters extinguished an oven fire in the 700 block of Community called in shortly after 10 a.m. that same day.
People news
A 17-year-old student at Lyons Township High School was found allegedly intoxicated and in possession of illegal fireworks in her first floor locker of the North campus, 100 S. Brainard Ave., it was reported at 11:15 a.m. Oct. 2. Police said Carissa Zavaleta, 4175 Eberly Ave., Brookfield, was issued a local ordinance ticket for illegal possession of fireworks and the school handled the alleged intoxication. In addition, a parent of the girl was notified and the school gave her information about alcoholism.
Police provided standby assistance for investigators with the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services as they attempted to remove three children in protective custody from a home in the first block of North Peck Avenue shortly before 4 a.m. Oct. 2. The attempt was unsuccessful, as the homeowners did not allow entry, police said. Another attempt was made about 4:15 p.m. the previous afternoon, but the homeowners did not answer the door. Details about the case were not immediately available.
A 49-year-old homeless man was caught sleeping under a porch of a duplex residence in the first block of North Catherine Avenue at 9:40 a.m. Oct. 6. The man was told not to return.
A 12-year-old Gurrie Middle School student got her finger stuck in a sewing machine while in a first floor classroom of the school, 1001 S. Spring Ave., at about 1 p.m. Oct. 5. The girl's mother refused medical assistance.
Two teens were seen begging for gas money while seated inside or standing outside a purple PT Cruiser in the parking lot of Walgreens, 2 N. La Grange Road, at about 9:45 p.m. Oct. 3, it was reported to police. The teens were not located.
A 14-year-old La Grange girl was transported to Riveredge Hospital after her 42-year-old mother told police the girl lost control and was hitting her in the home they share in the first block of South Spring Avenue. The incident was reported to police at 4:49 p.m. Oct. 2.
A waste of time
A neighboring resident of La Grange Adventist Hospital got what was coming to them on the morning of Oct. 1. Seems security at the hospital, 5101 S. La Grange Road, reports the unincorporated La Grange Highlands resident who lives just south of the facility's grounds has been dumping lawn and tree waste on the hospital property. The property owner was asked not to do so, as it is private property and security even posted signs to that effect, to no avail. The person keeps dumping there, they told police that morning. The waste, in turn, was dumped back on the offender's property.
Police said the victim reported she was robbed when the suspect implied he had a gun and demanded money.
The woman gave the man her money, but the offender did not confront the man. Neither were harmed.
The offender, a 6-foot-tall African-American man with a medium build, was last seen on foot near Cossitt Avenue after running through several adjacent residential yards.
Although no arrests have been made, reports indicated two subjects were seen running into a home in the first block of Washington Avenue. One had an unidentified object in his hand.
Onto other things
Besides that, there weren't many other serious crimes reported in the past week, perhaps because autumn is quickly settling in with cold temps and blustery winds.
Not too many trees or limbs were reported down following the unusually high winds on the night of Oct. 6, except a few near 51st Street and Brainard Avenue and in the 100 block of Ashland Avenue.
Slippery when wet
Last week's rains caused a few fender-benders, not the least of which was a single-car accident that interrupted traffic for a bit on the evening of Oct. 3 at La Grange Road and 47th Street. Seems Jared Johnson, 17, of 5120 Fair Elms, Western Springs was attempting a left turn in the intersection onto westbound 47th at about 8:30 p.m. when he lost control of the 2003 Honda Accord he was driving and struck a light pole in the parkway after he slid on the wet pavement. His two teenage passengers were not hurt, but he was transported to La Grange Adventist Hospital for treatment of his injuries. No tickets were issued in the crash.
Burglaries and thefts
A bicycle was reported stolen from an unlocked garage in the 300 block of South Stone Avenue shortly before 6 p.m. Oct. 4. Two days later, at about 9:30 p.m. Oct. 6, another bicycle was reported stolen from outside the La Grange Road train station, 25 W. Burlington Ave., as it was locked up on the north side of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks. Yet another bicycle was stolen from outside Horton's, 60 S. La Grange Road, on the night of Oct. 1. The GT mountain bike, reported stolen at 1 p.m. Oct. 2, was maroon with white lettering. It was not indicated whether the bike was locked at the time.
A license plate sticker was reported stolen in La Grange or Chicago at 6 p.m. Oct. 3. The owner of the vehicle lives in the 600 block of South Catherine Avenue.
The front door of a vacant house for sale in the 600 block of South Spring Avenue was discovered open shortly before 10 a.m. Oct. 4. It was not known if entry was gained.
A Latino man age 25 to 30 and wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt was seen trying to pry open a first floor window of an apartment in the 900 block of South 8th Avenue shortly after 11:30 p.m. Oct. 2. Police responded and were unable to locate the man. No entry was gained.
Vandalism
A 911 caller informed police a group of kids were throwing eggs at cars at Ogden and Waiola avenues at about 9:30 p.m. Oct. 6. But they were gone by the time an officer arrived.
The passenger side quarter panel of a gold Yukon was keyed by an unknown vandal as it was parked in the first block of West Hillgrove Avenue, it was reported at 11:41 a.m. Oct. 2. The vandalism occurred sometime between Sept. 18 and 25.
Blaze news
No injuries were reported when La Grange firefighters responded to a report of a possible grill fire on a balcony next to a building in the first block of Ashland Avenue at 4:35 p.m. Oct. 4. In La Grange Park, firefighters extinguished an oven fire in the 700 block of Community called in shortly after 10 a.m. that same day.
People news
A 17-year-old student at Lyons Township High School was found allegedly intoxicated and in possession of illegal fireworks in her first floor locker of the North campus, 100 S. Brainard Ave., it was reported at 11:15 a.m. Oct. 2. Police said Carissa Zavaleta, 4175 Eberly Ave., Brookfield, was issued a local ordinance ticket for illegal possession of fireworks and the school handled the alleged intoxication. In addition, a parent of the girl was notified and the school gave her information about alcoholism.
Police provided standby assistance for investigators with the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services as they attempted to remove three children in protective custody from a home in the first block of North Peck Avenue shortly before 4 a.m. Oct. 2. The attempt was unsuccessful, as the homeowners did not allow entry, police said. Another attempt was made about 4:15 p.m. the previous afternoon, but the homeowners did not answer the door. Details about the case were not immediately available.
A 49-year-old homeless man was caught sleeping under a porch of a duplex residence in the first block of North Catherine Avenue at 9:40 a.m. Oct. 6. The man was told not to return.
A 12-year-old Gurrie Middle School student got her finger stuck in a sewing machine while in a first floor classroom of the school, 1001 S. Spring Ave., at about 1 p.m. Oct. 5. The girl's mother refused medical assistance.
Two teens were seen begging for gas money while seated inside or standing outside a purple PT Cruiser in the parking lot of Walgreens, 2 N. La Grange Road, at about 9:45 p.m. Oct. 3, it was reported to police. The teens were not located.
A 14-year-old La Grange girl was transported to Riveredge Hospital after her 42-year-old mother told police the girl lost control and was hitting her in the home they share in the first block of South Spring Avenue. The incident was reported to police at 4:49 p.m. Oct. 2.
A waste of time
A neighboring resident of La Grange Adventist Hospital got what was coming to them on the morning of Oct. 1. Seems security at the hospital, 5101 S. La Grange Road, reports the unincorporated La Grange Highlands resident who lives just south of the facility's grounds has been dumping lawn and tree waste on the hospital property. The property owner was asked not to do so, as it is private property and security even posted signs to that effect, to no avail. The person keeps dumping there, they told police that morning. The waste, in turn, was dumped back on the offender's property.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)