Retail Theft Leads to Chase, Lockers Broken Into: River Forest Police Blotter

SUNDAY, SEPT. 23

Banned From Area

At about 8:29 p.m., an officer on patrol observed Charles P. Almendarez, 42, of the 3400 block of St. Paul in Bellwood, in the area of the River Forest Town Center. The officer knew through prior contact with Almendarez that he was banned from the property. The officer stopped him and took him into custody. Almendarez was charged with criminal trespass and was released on bond with a court date in October.

Party Busted

Officers responded to the 1100 block of Bonnie Brae Place for a report of a noise violation around 1:45 a.m. Officers found that the noise was coming from a large party on the third floor of a residence there and that minors were being served alcohol. Cited for hosting the party was a 21-year-old from Midlothian, a 22-year-old Tyler from Milwaukee, two 21-year-olds from Bloomingdale and a 23-year-old from Streamwood. All were released at the scene with a pending hearing dates.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 21

Man Hits Light Pole

Officers were sent to the 200 block of Lathrop at about 5:43 p.m. in response to a report of a car accident there. Police officers found that Dwight S. Newsom, 35, of the 4000 block of west Adam Street in Chicago, was driving south on Lathrop when an unknown vehicle allegedly stopped in front of him, causing him to drive onto the parkway and strike a light pole. A computer check of Newsom's driver's license found it was suspended and he was cited for driving with a suspended license, failing to reduce speed to avoid and accident and for injuring village property. Newsom was released on bond with an October court date.

Tip Jar Stolen

Police learned from the manager of Panera Bread, 7349 Lake Street, that a tip jar was stolen Sept. 19 at about 8:44 p.m. The jar was located at the rear of Petco, and police witnessed a young man who was about 13 years old, remove the jar and place it under his shirt on video surveillance.

Change Stolen From BMW

Police learned that the change was stolen from an unlocked BMW in the 500 block of William sometime between 9 p.m. on Sept. 20 and 8 a.m. on Sept. 21. The loss was estimated to be $10.

Leather Jacket Stolen

An employee of Men's Warehouse, 7203 Lake St., told police at about 12:23 p.m. that a man entered the store and walked out with a brown leather jacket without paying. The man was last seen headed east and crossing Harlem Avenue but was not found. The loss was estimated at about $750.

Projector Stolen

Police learned from staff at Dominican University, 7900 Division St., that someone stole a projector from a classroom in Lewis Hall sometime between 5:30 p.m. and 9:35 p.m. on Sept. 20. The loss was estimated at $850.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 20

Purse Stolen at Business

A Naperville resident told police at 3:32 p.m. that someone had taken items out of her purse as it hung on the back of a chair at Panera Bread, 7349 Lake St., sometime between 3:20 and 3:30 p.m. Taken was a wallet containing credit cards, personal ID and about $15 in cash.

Purse Stolen From Jeep

Sometime between 9:30 p.m. Sept. 19 and 8 a.m. Sept. 20, someone entered a Jeep Cherokee that was parked unlocked in the 700 block of Thatcher and stole a purse. Inside the purse was a wallet with credit cards and personal IDs. Also stolen was a pearl necklace of unknown value.

Theft of Bath Supplies Leads to Brief Chase

Police were called to CVS, 7929 W. North Ave. at about 10:49 a.m. for a report of a retail theft. Employees told police the suspect fled the scene in a vehicle and police broadcasted a description. One officer located the car in the 100 block of Harlem Avenue and attempted to stop the car, but the driver refused to yield. Eventually, the car was stopped on Harlem Avenue north of Madison Street in congested traffic. The driver, Gloria J. Watson, 57, of the 5500 block of North Avenue in Chicago was arrested and taken into custody.

Watson was identified by CVS staff as having taken multiple bath and body products valued at $69 and left without paying. A computer records check also found that Watson was wanted by Cook County Sheriff's police for a probation violation, with the original charge being retail theft.

Watson was charged with retail theft, fleeing and attempting to elude police, driving with a suspended license, no insurance, failing to yield to an emergency vehicle, expired registration and improper lane usage. Watson was held pending a morning bond hearing.

Cars Burglarized Overnight

A resident of the 600 block of Forest reported to police that sometime between 7 p.m. Sept. 19 and 7 a.m. Sept. 20, someone entered their Honda CRV and took about $5 in change.

Police learned that a Honda Odyssey parked in the 500 block of Jackson was also entered between 9 p.m. Sept. 19 and 9:45 a.m. Sept. 20. Nothing was reported taken, but it appeared to have been rummaged through. Another car was entered in the 500 block of Monroe at 10:09 a.m. The owner of a 1998 Acura told police that someone entered their car between noon Sept. 19 and 7:30 a.m. Sept. 20. The car had been parked unlocked in an alley. Nothing was taken, but it had been rummaged through.

Another resident in the 500 block of Monroe also told police that their 2007 Audi that was parked unlocked in the alley and had been entered between 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19 and 7 a.m. Sept. 20. Again, the car had been rummaged through, but nothing was taken. A resident in the 500 block of William told police that someone entered their GMC Acadia between 9 p.m. Sept. 19 and 7 a.m. Sept. 20. No loss was reported.

Burglary from Car

A resident in the 500 block of Monroe told police that someone entered their garage between 6 p.m. Sept. 19 and 6 a.m. Sept. 20 through an unlocked door. Someone also entered two cars parked in the garage. Stolen was change from the cars and a green hedge trimmer from the garage.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 19

St. Charles Woman Charged With Retail Theft

Police were called to Whole Foods Market, 7245 W. Lake St., at about 5:17 p.m. for a report of retail theft. Store security was holding Elizabeth M. Hertel, 49, of the 100 block of Millinton Way in St. Charles, and told the officers they had witnessed Hertel put multiple items in her purse and then take other items to the register to pay for them, without paying for the items in her purse. Hertel was stopped after leaving the store and was found in possession of lip gloss and a box of wine that had not been paid for. Police charged her with one count of misdemeanor retail theft and released her on bond with an October court date.

No Valid License

An officer on patrol who witnessed a vehicle disobey a stop sign later found the driver Miriam Rodriguez, 39, of the 11300 block of south Ewing in Chicago to be without a valid license. Rodriguez was cited for driving without a valid license, no insurance and disobeying a stop sign.

Suspended License

An officer on patrol at 9:40 a.m. observed a vehicle with no front license plate and excessive window tint. The officer pulled the vehicle over and found that Taneria S. Deer, 24, of the 4900 block of West Iowa in Chicago was driving on a suspended license. Police cited her with driving with a suspended license, no insurance, excessive window tint and no front license plate.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 18

Suspended License

A police officer pulled over a vehicle with expired registration at about 11:05 p.m. in the area of Harlem and Berkshire avenues. Elizabeth R. Abularach, 43, of the 2900 block of north Mulligan in Chicago was charged with driving with a suspended license, no insurance and expired registration.

MONDAY, SEPT. 17

Locker Room Theft

Between 2:30 and 6:45 p.m. someone entered the boys locker room at Dominican University and cut the padlocks off seven different lockers. After cutting the locks, they stole numerous cell phones, laptop computers, wallets, cash and other items. Several victims later told police that their debit and credit cards had been used a locations in Chicago to make purchases.

Police Blotter information is provided by the River Forest Police Department. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor at matthew@patch.com. We will verify and report the outcome.