An Oak Park woman had her wallet taken from her purse by a teenager around 2:30 the afternoon of Feb. 7. After taking the wallet, the thief was joined by another suspect, and both ran to the intersection of Pleasant and Marion streets. The woman chased the thieves briefly before the second offender stopped and pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at her. Total loss was $170.
The description of the two offenders in the Oak Park robbery closely resembles that of people involved in a similar incident about one hour earlier in the 300 block of Desplaines Avenue in Forest Park. The male victim in that robbery was struck repeatedly in the face with a “hard object,” and sustained injuries that required stitches.
? An Oak Park teen was approached by a gunman in the 400 block of South Taylor the afternoon of Feb. 8. The gunman ordered the teen into a nearby back yard, where he took the victim’s wallet and cell phone. Loss was $375.
Theft
Thieves continue to take advantage of distracted individuals in Oak Park and River Forest in restaurants, stores and elsewhere.
“You can’t let your guard down,” warned Oak Park Deputy Chief Robert Scianna, who noted that there were five such incidents in Oak Park the week before as well. “We’re going through one of those periods where we’ve got a crew out working restaurants.”
An Oak Park woman had her wallet stolen from her purse as it hung across the back of a chair in the Cosi restaurant the evening of Feb. 12. Loss was $140. Earlier that day an Elmhurst woman had her wallet lifted from her purse as it rested on a ledge at the coin laundry at 130 S. Oak Park Ave.
? A River Forest woman had her checkbook taken sometime last week. Several of her checks were subsequently cashed at Corus Bank in the village.
? A woman lost her wallet and keys, presumably to a pick pocket, sometime around 4 p.m. on Feb. 8 in the Whole Foods store in River Forest Town Center.
? Robinson’s Ribs lost well over $6,000 worth of barbecuing equipment overnight on Feb. 8. Thieves cut through a chain link fence behind the Madison Street restaurant and made off with a stainless steel food warmer and four stainless steel grill racks.
Burglary
Someone threw a large piece of concrete through the window of Sun Valley Insurance, 6043 North Ave. around 3:30 a.m. Feb. 8. Once inside they stole a computer monitor.
Criminal sexual assault
Brandon P. Perry, 23, of Hoffman Estates, was charged with Criminal Sexual Assault of a Chicago woman Feb.10 in relation to an incident that allegedly took place at a house party in the 400 block of South Home avenue on Jan. 9.
Auto theft
A 1997 Buick Park Avenue containing a set of golf clubs was stolen from the 600 block of North Humphrey Ave. overnight on Feb. 7. A Toyota Camry was also broken into in that incident, and two pair of earrings stolen. The Buick was found several days later on the South Side of Chicago by police. One Michael Williams, 19, was allegedly found inside the car, and was charged with Criminal Trespass to Auto.
Burglary to auto
The window of a Toyota Land Cruiser parked in the 400 block of Wesley overnight on Feb. 11 was smashed, and the vehicle ransacked. Loss was $300.
? The window of a 1993 Mercury Tracer was broken over night on Feb. 13. A CD player, radar detector and $30 in cash were stolen.
? The driver’s side window of a car in the 200 block of North Grove was broken and $100 in cash taken sometime between Feb. 8 and Feb. 11. Loss was $200.
Burglary
Sometime on the weekend of Feb. 10-12, thieves broke into a construction site in the 900 block of North Grove and stole $1,500 worth of equipment.
Aggravated battery
Around 5 p.m. on Feb. 10, an Oak Park juvenile was attacked by two other teenagers outside Oak Park and River Forest High School, 201 N. Scoville. One offender held the young man by the throat while the other one struck him on the head with a cell phone and punched him in the face several times. No one has been charged as yet.
Theft
A woman removed a gold and diamond bracelet from a display case in the West Suburban Hospital Gift Shop the morning of Feb. 11. She ran out without paying.
Retail theft
Rodney Williams, 44, of Chicago was charged with Retail Theft, Battery and Resisting a Police Officer after he struggled with security and police at the Dominicks at 7501 North Ave. around 4:30 p.m. Feb. 9. Williams, who has prior convictions, was held on $30,000 bond.
? Dino E. O’Conner 39, of Chicago was arrested after allegedly leaving the Dominicks at 259 Lake St. with several packages of Pepcid AC without paying.
? A woman left a shopping cart “full of Similac” baby formula and exited the Jewel store at 7525 Lake St. with approximately six cans of formula under her coat.
? Three juveniles were arrested at the Coconuts, 7235 Lake St., after attempting to steal two DVDs.
Local ordinance tickets
Andrew Lishchynsky, 18; Joseph Suela, 22; David W. Butler, 18; and Michael R. Salinas, 20, were observed walking on a restricted area of the CTA platform near 7300 Central in River Forest around 8 p.m. Feb. 11. A consensual search of Butler’s car allegedly turned up 49 cans of spray paint, along with photo negatives of graffiti Butler had reportedly done.
Deceptive practices
A man tried to purchase a gift card from Tweeters, 7201 Lake St. the afternoon of Feb. 13 with a credit card. When the card didn’t go through, the man offered the clerk $50 in an attempt to have him accept it anyway. The suspect then entered a waiting Lincoln Navigator and took off.
? The above reported incidents are gleaned from the Oak Park and River Forest Police departments from Feb. 6 through Feb. 12. Not all incidents that occurred are listed. Anyone named in reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated.
?#34;compiled by Bill Dwyer
