Pregnancy Test Taker, Van Vultures and Wallet Pluckers

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 described as 5 feet 8 inches tall and 160 pounds.

New Village Slogan: "Home of Future Stuntmen'

LA GRANGE, Feb. 13—A passer-by told La Grange police that kids were jumping from the third floor to the second floor of the village parking garage, 80 S. Sixth Ave., at about 3:46 p.m.  An officer told the kids who were still there to move along and not jump from one floor to the other.

Why Security Cameras are Needed

DOWNERS GROVE, Feb. 13—At 1:34 p.m. Susan M. Bieszczat, 55, of Elmhurst was charged with retail theft at Fry’s Electronics, 3300 Finley Road. An employee observed Bieszczat allegedly open a box containing an Astak security camera valued at $279 and place the contents in her purse. She was stopped while leaving the store and police were called.

The Way Things Were Before Video Games

LA GRANGE, Feb. 11—Twenty to 25 kids were reported yelling and running through yards at about 8:59 p.m. near 48th Street and Eighth Avenue. A La Grange police officer found a group of kids at 47th Street and Eighth Avenue and told them to “keep it down.”

Drive-through Hell at the Bell: Tossing a Taco Tantrum

DOWNERS GROVE, Feb. 7—A driver was ordering food in the drive-through lane of Taco Bell, 7451 Lemont Road, at 10:09 p.m. when the guy in the vehicle behind him bumped his car. The motorist in the first car told police he gestured "What are you doing?" to the driver behind him. Police were told the driver in the second car gestured back and yelled, “What’s up fat boy, you ordering all the food? Leave some for me!” Police were told the second driver continued to berate the first and bumped his car two more times.

When the first motorist reached the drive-through window, he asked an employee to call 911. Arriving at the scene, police noticed the car’s bumper looked cracked and it had fresh scuff marks.

The driver of the second car, James F. Rodgers, 30, of Darien was charged with disorderly conduct and damaging property. Rodgers was asked if he had been drinking and given sobriety tests, but no DUI was issued.

Nondescript Look Not in Wallet-Plucking Playbook

WHEATON, Feb. 5—A Wheaton resident left his wallet next to a cash register at Dominick’s at around 8:45 p.m. to redeem a coupon from the customer service desk. When he returned, someone had taken his wallet, worth about $20 and containing $450 in cash. According to the police report, a 6-foot-2-inch white male took the wallet. He had long, dark brown hair pulled back in a pony tail, was wearing jeans, black boots, a black shirt and a backwards black and white baseball hat and had cursive writing tattooed on his forearm.

ELMHURST, Jan. 30—Someone took a wallet that was left on the counter of Citgo, 218 E. Butterfield Road, between 1:49 and 2:01 p.m. The suspect was seen on surveillance camera and is described as a female, about 40 years old, 5-foot-9-inches tall, 225 pounds with long hair. The wallet contained three credit cards, a driver's license and an ID card.

A Small Bite Out of Crime

ST. CHARLES, Feb. 5—A man was arrested for retail theft after failing to pay for a DVD copy of Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2. Alberto Perez-Ramirez, 34, of 1913 Wessel Ct., St. Charles, was charged after a loss prevention officer at Meijer observed him pay for several items but walk out of the story with the DVD, according to police.

Batman and Robbin'?

ELMHURST, Feb. 3—A customer at Jewel, 153 E. Schiler St., at 4:15 p.m. told police that he had just seen two men carrying a hand basket full of groceries leave the store without paying. They reportedly got into a waiting vehicle and left at a high rate of speed. They are described as 23 to 27, clean-shaven with large builds and short black hair.

Long Line at the Grocery Checkout

ELMHURST, Feb. 3—A resident of the 600 block of West Gladys street told police that at 2 p.m. Feb. 2 he allowed his neighbor to borrow his truck to go grocery shopping and as of Feb. 3, the vehicle had not been returned. Police tried to contact the neighbor. The truck's owner wanted to report the truck as stolen, but at the time of the report it was considered a civil matter.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity in our town, using information provided by official agencies. Persons charged with a crime, or issued a citation for violation of a local ordinance, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you or a family member is charged with a crime or cited for a violation, and the charge or citation are subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor of this Patch site and we will do follow-up reporting on the case.