Crime & Safety

This Week's Blotters: Car Scheme, Steak Mistake, a Potato Salute

And a law firm reacts to a cheesy trick.

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 returned. Police determined the release order was fraudulent.

Worth Going Away? Not Even a Filet

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DOWNERS GROVE, March 26—An employee at Westbrook Market, 2065 63rd St., saw two men come into the store before 6 p.m. and told police they appeared to be intoxicated. One man left the store.

The other one was observed allegedly taking packages from the meat department and attempting to place them under his shirt. The man's  first attempt was unsuccessful. He left the meat in another aisle of the store. But he returned to the meat department and allegedly placed two packages of round steak under his clothes, valued at $9.75, and tried to walk out of the store. Police said the man started to run when an employee attempted to stop him and another employee had to assist to keep the man from leaving.

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Brian E. Liska, 23, of Bolingbrook was charged with retail theft. He was charged with misdemeanor retail theft and transported to DuPage County Jail on a parole violation, according to the police report.

Good Spot for a Pedicab Service

DOWNERS GROVE, March 25—A Schwinn bicycle valued at $50 was taken from a garage in the 7200 block of Lyman Avenue between 7:10 a.m. and 7:20 a.m. Police said the owner was preparing to leave for work and on his way to the car from the house when he noticed his bike helmet on the driveway and the bike missing from the garage. Police later found the bike outside the nearby TJ Maxx store and believe someone from the apartments near the home may have taken the bike to get to work. The homeowner said people frequently cut through his yard. 

Next Phase in Men's Fashion?

ELMHURST, March 25–Police received a call at 11:15 a.m. that a man, approximately 60, was standing by a tree on the east side of Poplar near the Prairie Path with his pants and underwear down around his ankles. The caller said the man was just standing there, looking around. It was reported that a black Cadillac with a soft top was parked on the north side of Vallette, east of Poplar, but it is unknown if the car belonged to the man. Police checked, but couldn't find him.

The Skunks Might be Getting Smarter

DOWNERS GROVE, March 25—Two animal traps valued at $85 were taken from a residence in the 500 block of Prairie Avenue between 6 p.m. March 25 and 10:30 a.m. March 26. Police said the traps had been set because of animal problems on the property.

Can't Estoppel Delivery by Pizza Party of the First Part

LA GRANGE, March 23—A law office reported at about 1:21 p.m. that it had received three large pizza deliveries it had not ordered from three different pizzerias—Alex and Aldo’s in La Grange Park, Papa John’s in La Grange and Ledo’s in Countryside.

One-Spud Salute

LA GRANGE, March 23—Police were told that a boy living in the 1000 block of south Waiola shoots off a potato gun or some other kind of gun every Friday and Saturday between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m., causing a loud noise and disturbing neighbors.

Gas Vampire Sucks from Tank

DOWNERS GROVE, March 14—Five gallons of gas valued at $19 was taken from a car in the 5300 block of Fairmount Avenue between 8 a.m. March 14 and 12:30 p.m. March 28. The owner said the car isn’t driven often and he noticed the gas missing when he tried to start it. Police said dried splash marks were noticeable below the gas cap.

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