Crime & Safety

Police Told Tale of Taunting Dog

And an officer's nose keeps a family out of harm's way.

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

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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 found that the rear patio of the home was on fire and flames were beginning to menace the home through the windows.

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“Had Officer Madler not found it when he did, I can’t tell you for sure, but I imagine another 10 minutes and there would have been significant fire in the house, which could have impeded the escape of the people inside," said Mayor.  “It was a good thing that he happened to be patrolling in that area, searched out the odor that he smelled and found it.”

The home was equipped with smoke detectors, but they had not gone off by the time the officer arrived. The residents of the home were asleep and were woken by Madler's knocking.

Four people escaped from the home without injury. The home was not structurally damaged.

Mayor said several potential causes for the fire are under investigation.

Probably Not a Good Thing

LA GRANGE, April 2—The Fire Department responded at about 10:33 a.m. to an apartment in the 300 block of west Harris Avenue where water was reported coming out of an electrical outlet.

Like the Energizer Bunny, It Keeps Going and Going

BURR RIDGE, March 31—Burr Ridge police received a delayed report from a resident on Chestnut Hills Circle that an unknown projectile, possibly a bullet, had pierced the exterior wall of their home on March 30 at approximately 10:30 p.m.

Officers determined that the damage was caused by a bullet and conducted a door-to-door canvass of homes in the area of 7200 Vine Street.

They ultimately located a man who fired the rounds in the direction of Chestnut Hills Circle. He cooperated with investigating officers and voluntarily surrendered his handgun and ammunition. The subsequent investigation revealed that the man fired his .45 caliber handgun three times in the direction of the marsh east of his home. Spent casings were recovered from the offender’s rear yard. A Burr Ridge police evidence technician recovered one .45 caliber bullet from an interior wall in the victim’s home.

Michael R. Collins, 25, of 7208 Vine St., Burr Ridge, was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm; a class 4 felony.

Mailbox Broken. Ruh-roh!

ELMHURST, March 27—A resident told police four men came to his door asking to speak with his stepson at 10:15 p.m. He told them his stepson was asleep and couldn't come to the door. When they demanded to see him, the resident told them to leave or he would call police. The suspects left in a black Chevy Tahoe or Ford Explorer. Moments later, the man went outside and noticed his plastic mailbox was broken into pieces. The men are described as between 18 and 19. One was described as looking like Shaggy from the Scooby Doo movie.

'Pizza' Guy Had No Pie

BATAVIA, March 26—A resident reported that a man tried to convince her that he was delivering a pizza to her house.

The woman, who lives in the 700 block of Walnut Street, said a white man, between 20 and 30, approached her residence, saying he was delivering a pizza. He had no pizza with him, and no one from the residence had ordered one. Local pizzerias were contacted, and none had a record of a delivery for the address.

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