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Crime & Safety

Oak Park Police Blotter: Victim's Actions Thwart Robbery

Saw walks off, wallet thefts, bike thefts and more.

The following items are taken from the  daily summary reports for July 14-July 17. In all incidents where an arrest occurred, a charge is merely an accusation and not evidence of guilt. The arrested person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Theft:  An unlocked trek bicycle was taken July 17 from the 400 block of Lake Street. Estimated loss was $300.

Theft:  A locked mountain bicycle was taken from a bike rack in the 100 block of Forest Avenue sometime between July 16 and July 17.  Estimated loss was $380.

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DUI Arrest:  Joshua Rodriguez, 22, of Oak Park was charged July 17 with driving under the influence of alcohol after he struck a car parked in the 1200 block of North Taylor Avenue, police said. In investigating the crash a police officer smelled a strong odor of alcohol and conducted a field sobriety test.

Criminal Trespass:  Lawrence Hanks, 53, of Chicago, was charged with criminal trespass to land July 17 after repeatedly told that he was not supposed to be in the 7-11, 240 Chicago Ave., police said. An employee called police after he showed up and refused to leave, police said.

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Retail Theft:  William Dubois, 41, of Chicago was charged July 17 with retail theft taking 5 DVDs valued at $100, from Borders Books and Music, police said. According to police, a store employee followed Dubois outside and saw him boarding a CTA bus traveling north on Harlem and called police. Dubois was arrested when the bus was stopped at Harlem and North avenues, police said.  

Criminal Damage:  The drivers’ side mirror of a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta parked in the 100 block of Pleasant Street was kicked and broken July 17. Estimated damage was unknown.

Theft:  An unlocked road bike was taken July 17 from the side of a home in the 200 block of North Elmwood Avenue. Estimated loss was $300.

Theft:  A mountain bike was taken July 17 from the rear yard of a home in the 800 block of South Ridgeland.  Entry was gained through a closed, but unlocked, gate.  Estimated loss was $1,000.

Theft:  Two aluminum work horses and two steel bed frames were taken from a home in the 500 block of South Grove Avenue sometime between July 16 and July 17.  Estimated loss was $460.

Auto Theft:   A 2000 Saturn SL2 parked in the 900 block of North Humphrey was stolen sometime between July 16 and July 17.  Estimated loss was $4,000.

Theft:  A bicycle left unsecured and unattended was taken from a home in the 600 block of South Lombard Avenue sometime between July 16 and July 17. Estimated loss was $50. 

Cannabis Possession:  Scott Frederickson, 20, of Oak Park was charged July 16 with unlawful possession of marijuana, police said.  The arrest took place in the 200 block of Home Avenue.

Attempted Robbery:  A woman sustained a minor scratch to her back when she fought off an attacker who attempted to grab her cell phone while she was walking in the early hours of July 16. Police said a young man approached the victim who was walking in the 100 block of North Taylor Avenue in an attempt to speak with her. Police said she refused his advances and kept walking away from him.  The victim told police he said she should come with him and she again refused. At that point, he grabbed her arm, pushed her down and tried to take her cell phone. The victim kicked and screamed until he stopped, at which point he fled south on Taylor on his bicycle.

Theft:  A wallet containing $50, credit cards, a driver’s license and social security card was taken from a purse hung on the back of her chair at the Buzz Café, South Lombard on July 16.  Estimated loss was $150.

Theft:  A wallet containing $15, credit cards, identification cards, blank checks from two different accounts and three gift cards was taken July 16 from a purse left under a chair at the Women’s Exchange. Estimated loss was $55.

Burglary to Auto:  A GPS unit, three vehicle remotes and $20 were taken July 16 from a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu parked in the 400 block of South Cuyler Avenue. The estimated loss was $416.

Warrant Arrest:  Brenda Singleton, 45, of Oak Park was arrested July 16 on an outstanding warrant from the Cook County Sheriff’s Department for failing to appear in court on a charge of driving on a suspended license, police said. According to police, Singleton was picked up during an investigation of an unrelated incident in the 6500 block of West North Avenue, police said.

Criminal Damage:  Several plastic pickets were damaged on a fence alongside a home in the 1100 block of Wisconsin Avenue on July 16. Brute force was used to damage the property. Estimated loss was $5,000.  

Retail Theft:  A gym shoe was stolen July 15 when a man went into the Athlete’s Foot, 4 Madison St., took the item from a display and left the store. Estimated loss was $50.

Retail Theft:  Two packs of Dream Weaver hair extensions were taken from a display rack at beauty supply store, Queen’s Beauty Supply, 14 Madison St. July 15. Estimated loss was $32.80.

DUI Arrest:  Pablo Montelongo, 35, of Chicago was charged July 15 with aggravated driving under the influence, driving without a valid license and without insurance, police said. He was arrested in the 400 block of South Austin Boulevard.

Controlled Substance:  Quentin D. Hall, 50, of Broadview was charged July 16 with possession of heroin and cocaine, police said. In responding to a call of a welfare check in the 100 block of North Grove Avenue, police found a Mercury sedan parked in that location with Hall behind the wheel. In a subsequent investigation police found .2 grams each of heroin and cocaine contained in separate plastic bags.   

Theft:  A walking saw was stolen July 15 from an unlocked construction trailer parked in the 1100 block of South Harvey Avenue.  Estimated loss was $1,500.

Burglary to Auto:  Power tools were taken sometime between July 14 and July 15 from a 2006 GMC Savana van parked in the 1100 block of South Ridgeland Avenue. Entry was gained through an unlocked rear door. Estimated loss was $1,880.

Burglary:  Three bicycles, miscellaneous tools and an Apple laptop computer were stolen sometime between July 14 and July 15 from a home in the 200 block of North Elmwood Avenue. Entry was gained by cutting the screen and breaking a wooden board on the basement window. Estimated loss was $1,300.

Burglary to Auto:  The sunroof was pried open but nothing was taken from a 2011 Toyota Highlander parked in the 800 block of North Kenilworth Avenue sometime between July 14 and July 15.  Estimated loss was $1,500.

Criminal Damage:  The window at Grace Episcopal Church, 924 W. Lake St., was broken with a piece of cement July 14. Estimated loss was $200.

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