Crime & Safety

Oak Park Crime Briefs: Graffiti and an Intruder at OPRF, Vandalism at 1140 Lake

Vandals take to the walls at two local buildings.

GRAFFITI AT OPRF
Spray paint was used to vandalized the exterior walls of , 201 S. Scoville Ave. over the weekend. 

Police said the vandalism took place sometime Friday evening and Saturday morning, when various messages were scrawled  on "multiple locations" on the school's walls. Cmdr. LaDon Reynolds said the drawings, including "420" and "N$", were not gang related. 

School spokeswoman Kay Foran said the graffiti was removed by the school's building and grounds crew Saturday — at a cost to the school of about $700 to $800. She said the school will seek restitution from the culprit, if one can be identified.

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Reynolds said any residents who encounter graffiti can call their residential beat officer to report it. A list of "RBOs" can be .

CRIMINAL TRESPASSING
A basement room inside the 1140 Lake Street building was ransacked last week, and authorities reported some downright strange findings when they arrived.

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Placed inside the basement, police said, were garbage cans, a stereo and a big television that didn't belong there. Markers were used on the walls and keys had been glued to a post. 

Police said the vandalism took place sometime between April 4 and April 6. Whoever's responsible for it may have made their way into the building by way of a broken window in the back, police said. 

"We don't have any information that anything was stolen," Reynolds said.  

UNWELCOME GUEST
A 17-year-old Oak Park teen was charged with criminal trespass to state supported property after he was spotted inside Oak Park-River Forest High School by a security guard who recognized him as an intruder, police said.

Details on the incident are scarce — police did not identify the juvenile and school officials couldn't comment Tuesday — but authorities said the young man showed up at the school around 11:30 a.m. Thursday but "was not allowed to be there." 


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