Oak Park and River Forest police reports - Feb. 26-March 3

Two jewelry stores burglarized

Two Oak Park jewelry stores were burglarized this week in Oak Park.

Overnight Feb. 24, police said thieves cut a hole in the wall of a neighboring vacant storefront to burglarize Kuba Jewelers in the 800 block of South Oak Park Ave.

A pry tool was apparently used to break into the back entrance of the vacant Yova Coffee Shop. Police said offenders crawled through a hole into the jewelry store next door, where they pried open display cases and cut open a safe, evidently with a cutting tool, according to Oak Park Detective Sgt. Michael Richardson.

"They took jewelry from the safe and $200," said Richardson, noting that the shop did not have a video surveillance system. Richardson said the shop's owner did not have an accurate estimate of the total loss. Damage to the building was estimated at $800.

Video surveillance captured images in another jeweler burglary at the Marelli Gold and Diamond Exchange in the 6000 block of Roosevelt Road, overnight March 1. A male offender, age 20-40, wearing a dark colored winter hat, a dark vest and dark hoodie, was observed shattering the door window with a pipe wrench. Once inside, he used the wrench to break the display cases.

String of garage burglaries

Oak Park experienced a string of garage burglaries last week. Six different burglaries or attempts were reported to police in all areas of town. Burglaries occurred overnight Feb. 27, in the 400 block of N. Marion; Feb. 28 in the 1100 block of S. Lyman and 1200 block of N. Humphrey. On March 1, four garages were hit in the 100 and 500 blocks of S. Taylor and two in the 700 block of S. East Ave.

Vehicles stolen

A gray 2005 Pontiac Grand Am was removed from the rear of a residence in the first block of Lake Street, overnight March 2. Total estimated loss is $5,000.

Someone drove away in a gray 2011 Nissan Maxima left running in the 200 block of Home Avenue on Feb. 25. The vehicle was later recovered by the Maywood Police Department.

Burglary to motor vehicle

Someone broke the front driver's side window of a black Honda Accord in the first block of Iowa Street on March 3. A Kenwood car radio was removed from the dashboard. Estimated cost of damage and loss is $700.

A Kenwood AM/FM/CD/Stereo was removed from a parked vehicle in the 600 block of S. Taylor overnight March 2.

Someone gained entry to a 2004 Suzuki in the 1000 block of N. Austin overnight Feb. 24.The left passenger's window was smashed, and a 24-pack of beer was removed. Estimated loss is $115.

An unoccupied vehicle at the Shell gas station in the 400 block of Madison was hit between Feb. 28 – March 4. A black Kate Spade purse was removed. Estimated loss is $60.

Residential burglary

Someone stole a laptop computer with a carrying bag, an iPod and an iPod speaker from a residence in the 500 block of N. Humphrey on Feb. 26. The suspect is a male between 25-30 years old with a medium build. The victim observed someone walking in front of the residence before the items were taken. Estimated loss is $360.

An mp3 player, miscellaneous jewelry, basketball shoes, and a watch were removed from a house in the 400 block of Ridgeland, Feb. 28-March 3. Estimated loss is $1,174.

On Feb. 28, a residence in the 1000 block of Wisconsin Avenue was burglarized. The victim reported that a male in his 20s with black hair, wearing a dark blue jacket, knocked on the door and stated that he needed to check the water pressure. The victim let the man in but became suspicious. He announced that he was calling the police. The offender then left the residence and headed in an unknown direction. The victim discovered that several bedroom drawers had been ransacked. A silver watch, two envelopes containing $450, and two plastic containers holding $500 had been removed. Estimated loss is $950.

A bedroom window was pried open in a condo in the 7200 block of Oak St. in River Forest sometime during the day on March 1. Persons unknown removed two televisions, cartons of cigarettes and a radio.

An unlocked rear sliding door was the entry point for a burglar during the day in the 1300 block of Lathrop Avenue.

Attempted robbery

A male offender, wearing a blue hoodie and tan coat struck a victim in the 600 block of Lake St. on March 1. The offender approached the victim from behind and attempted to take a cellphone from the victim's hands. The victim fled the scene of crime on foot.

These items, obtained from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments, came from reports filed Feb. 26-March 3 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public's help in making an arrest.