Occasionally, Dad Needs a Relaxing Day at a Spa LA GRANGE, Sept. 26—A 15-year-old La Grange Highlands girl who was learning to drive hit the accelerator by mistake and drove into Natasha’s Salon and Day Spa, 539A S. LaGrange Rd., at about 7:10 p.m., according to police. No injuries were reported. The Acura she was in was towed from inside the building. Her father told police he was with her while she was driving under a learner’s permit. He said she pulled into the parking lot turning from LaGrange Road, tried to park, hit the accelerator by mistake, went over the parking post and sidewalk …

Double Oops ELMHURST, Sept. 16—Police found a man passed out behind the wheel of a Toyota Camry parked on First Street near Larch Avenue. They noticed the driver's side window was smashed out and glass was strewn throughout the inside of the car. When the man woke up, police reported that he told them he was drunk and had to break into his car because he had locked his keys inside. However, police determined that the man broke into the wrong car. They found his Mitsubishi parked on the third floor of the Larch Parking Deck. Eduardo Rivera, 27, 325 E. Myrick, Addison, was charged with criminal…

Deep Sleeper Misses Creeper ELMHURST, Aug. 30—Police were told that somebody entered a locked apartment on the 400 block of West Butterfield between 10 p.m. Aug. 30 and 5 p.m. Aug. 31 and removed a gold-colored wrist watch and diamond engagement ring. The victim told police the items were removed from her body while she was sleeping. Grassault with a Deadly Weeder BURR RIDGE, Aug. 29—Police were called at about 12:45 p.m. to a home on 94th Street when a resident accidentally sprayed weed-killer on a small portion of his neighbor's lawn. No arrests were made. Still Time to Move There Before …

Luxurious Spot for Cat Hair LA GRANGE, Aug. 24—A gray-and-white tabby cat with black stripes wandered into Luxe Home Interiors, 22 W. Burlington Ave., police learned at about 1:18 p.m. The cat had no collar. Police brought the cat to the Hinsdale Humane Society.  Mystery Meat on Wheels LA GRANGE, Aug. 23—Police were unable to locate a man reported selling meat out of a gray or blue sport-utility vehicle at about 12:22 p.m. on the 800 block of Seventh Avenue. The man was blond, in his 20s and wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. He may have been selling from the Bridgeview area, police said. …

No Rhyme or Reason to Some Poultry LA GRANGE, Aug. 13—A woman watching her daughter’s house on South Stone Avenue while the daughter was away reported that someone left a store-bought chicken on the front doorstep. To Pluck a Flower at a Late Hour, Might be Safe, He Thinks. But Darkness Will Not Dim Its Gaze—a Camera Never Blinks ELMHURST, Aug. 13—A man walked onto the front porch of a home on the 600 block of South Mitchell, looked in the front window and took a plastic flowerpot off the center pillar of the porch at 2:54 a.m. The homeowner told police that he saw the suspect on video from …

If You Recognize This Underwear... DOWNERS GROVE, July 28—At 2:54 a.m. police responded to an alarm and found the front door shattered at Tobacco Discount, 2321 Ogden Ave., but no one was inside. The owner estimated 30 cartons of cigarettes valued at $1,500 and 20 incense bottles valued at $160 were taken. Police gave descriptions of the burglars, based on video images of two people inside the store: Person #1: Medium build, wearing a green jacket, black pants with a hole in the right knee, white gloves, black-and-white gym shoes, and a dark shirt over the head. Person #2: Medium build, …

Premium, Regular and Very Irregular LISLE, June 9—The Shell gas station at Ogden and Yackley avenues was closed after the canopy over the station's filling area fell over. Patch checked it out after spotting a photo from Twitter user @DWATzke. The site at 2001 Ogden Ave. is owned by TrueNorth Energy. District manager John Mannion was on hand to provide details. He said the 'freak accident' occurred around 7:50 a.m., when the canopy apparently snapped. No one was injured, and no cars were parked under the canopy at the time. Things They Don't Tell You on the Do-It-Yourself Network BATAVIA, …

Every Burglar's Bane: Great Dane Beyond the Pane ELMHURST, May 25—A resident of the 300 block of West Alexander Boulevard told police a man between 6-foot-2 and 6-foot-4-inches tall, with medium-length blond hair, wearing jeans, a blue T-shirt and carrying a black backpack, tried to open her rear, sliding-glass door at 12:02 p.m. He stopped when the resident’s Great Dane charged at him. He was only able to push the door open 6 inches due to a bar set in place. Summer's Here (Almost) and the Time is Right LA GRANGE, May 24—Two women were reported to be blocking cars from passing while they …

Why Many Change Pants After Checking In ELMHURST, May 19—A California man was arrested at 12:30 a.m. in the parking lot near Extended Stay America, 550 W. Grand Ave. A patrolling officer saw Ronald E. Murphy, 55, of Needles, CA, standing outside his silver Kia Optima changing his pants. He told police he was driving to California from New York and was changing his clothes before staying the night at the hotel. Police said he agreed to a search of his car, and they found 4.3 grams of cannabis, a .22 caliber rifle, a .44 revolver and a .22 semi-automatic pistol. Murphy was taken into custody, …

Phony Franklin Face Smoother than Spender's GLEN ELLYN, April 13—The Chamber of Commerce warned merchants that a counterfeit $100 bill had turned up at a business in town. The man who allegedly spent the counterfeit bill was described as 60, white, with blond or gray hair and a bad complexion. Not Lovin' It LA GRANGE, April 11—A 22-year-old man and 20-year-old woman who were arguing at about 12:31 a.m. at McDonald’s, 100 N. LaGrange Rd., were sent on their way by police. Sometimes It's Not the Mailman ELMHURST, April 9—At 9:58 p.m. a resident of the 200 block of East Wilson Street reported …

Tail Teasing or Muzzle Mocking? LA GRANGE, April 5—A woman living in the 0-100 block of north Edgewood Avenue told police at about 6:55 p.m. that a neighbor’s dog was on her property and taunting her. Police said it was unknown where the dog lived. Officer's Nose for Trouble Beats Smoke Detectors WESTERN SPRINGS, April 3—Police officer Terry Madler's timely discovery of a fire helped avoid danger to the home and residents at 3842 Grove Ave., said Fire Department Deputy Chief Gary Mayor. Madler was patrolling Ogden Avenue when he smelled a strange odor from Grove Avenue. Upon investigating, he…

Hiccup in the Pickup for "Transporter" ELMHURST, March 29—The general manager of Ed Napleton Acura, 745 W. Lake St., reported that he received an order to release a vehicle for auction at 2:20 p.m. He had been made aware of a scam in which dealerships are given false orders to release vehicles, then dealers would release the vehicles to people representing themselves as "transporters." When the "transporter" showed up, a salesperson asked the subject, described as a  30-year-old black man, 5-foot-10-inches tall, 160 pounds with a scraggly beard, for his drivers license. The man left and never…

Green Thumb: Yes, Handyman: No CLARENDON HILLS, March 24—The tenant of a residence in the 5900 block of Clarendon Hills Road called his landlord to complain about a water leak. While checking out the leak, the landlord noticed the windows were covered with condensation and there were a large number of green leafy plants growing in the house, with lights on them. The landlord called police. After obtaining a search warrant, the Sheriff's Tactical Narcotics Team recovered more than 400 marijuana plants throughout the home. The tenant, Stephen M. Baker, 43, was charged with a felony for …

The Night has Many Eyes LA GRANGE, March 18—A woman living in the 400 block of Ashland Avenue reported seeing a man and woman on a porch possibly engaging in indecent activity in public at about 1:48 a.m. The two ran west on Goodman Avenue and a police officer found a 20-year-old man at 47th Street and Ashland and brought him home to Western Springs. Spring Cleaning HINSDALE, March 9—Thirty used motor vehicle tires were found dumped in the parking lot of Firestone Tire, 150 E. Ogden Ave. It is believed the illegal dumping occurred between 7:30 p.m. March 9 and 6:30 a.m. March 11. There are no…

Coming Soon to Ghost Hunters LA GRANGE, March 1—A woman living in the 100 block of north Edgewood Lane told police at about 1:11 p.m. that she believed someone was in her home and she and her son were hiding in an upstairs bedroom. She had been hearing banging noises downstairs. An officer checked the exterior and interior of the home and said it was secure. It was unknown what caused the noise, according to police. Plucky Poultry Prompts Police Pursuit LA GRANGE, Feb. 28—A woman living in the 200 block of south Spring Avenue reported seeing a live chicken in her driveway at about 8 a.m. A …

Too Late in the Evening for, "Honey, I'm Home" LA GRANGE, Feb. 22—Police investigating a call of a possible intruder on the main floor of a home in the 200 block of south Sixth Avenue at about 10:49 p.m. said they found a husband who had gone on a business trip, but turned around midway because of bad road conditions and came home. His wife and daughter had been hiding in an upstairs bedroom. What to Do if Baby's Bald, with Yellow Teeth? DOWNERS GROVE, Feb. 19—Items valued at $730 were reported taken at 8:56 p.m. from Jewel-Osco, 1148 Ogden Ave., by a woman identified by a loss prevention …

Following Up on Valentine's Day ELMHURST, Feb. 16—A 15-year-old boy was arrested after he was seen taking three pregnancy test kits from their packages and placing them into his coat at Jewel, 944 S. York Rd. Waiting for a Ride DOWNERS GROVE, Feb. 15—At 12:43 p.m. a Toyota Sienna was stolen after it was left unlocked and idling at 7-Eleven, 4240 Main St., while the owner went into the store to use the restroom. Witnesses reported seeing two men in their early 20s sitting inside the store near the front window about 25 minutes before the car sped from the parking lot, police said. The men were…

Snow's only silent when it falls LA GRANGE, Feb. 9—A neighbor of Seventh Avenue School complained to police about loud truck noise at about 12:53 a.m. Police said a dump truck had been in the parking lot of the school since at least 7:15 p.m. removing snow and putting it on the soccer field to make more room for cars. Police were told at 12:53 a.m. that the truck would finish in 15 minutes and continue later. Does that snow pile look familiar? LA GRANGE, Feb. 7—A  man told police he had parked his car in front of La Grange Village Hall and it was not there at 5:39 p.m. The vehicle was located…

A Plumber Pointing a Pipe? ELMHURST, Feb. 3—A man with a gun in the area of the 900 block of North York Road was reported to police at 4:58 p.m. The man was a passenger in a white plumbing truck. He allegedly got out of the truck and pointed a gun at someone in another vehicle. Elk Grove Village police stopped a vehicle matching the description of the truck. The occupants admitted they were involved in a road rage incident, but they were released on the scene because no gun was found. Penmanship is a Lost Art DOWNERS GROVE, Jan. 30—A homeowner in the 500 block of Indianapolis Avenue reported …

Could Have Been Worse. Could Have Been a Rolling Stone. LA GRANGE, Jan. 24—A Honda Odyssey collided with a “random” rolling spare tire in the roadway at Cossitt Avenue and Park Road at about 7:49 p.m., according to La Grange police. No one was injured. These Hiking Boots Were Made for Walking LA GRANGE, Jan. 23—A cab driver told police he brought a man from Berwyn to La Grange at about 9:09 p.m.  Upon arrival, the man ran out without paying the $12 fare. The man was described as 40 to 50 years old, 5-foot-8, medium build, having a grey beard and wearing a red ski hat and tan hiking boots. …