Police arrested two men last week in relation to alleged vehicle burglaries around the village. Such break-ins, all involving the smashing of side windows, continue to be a problem the past several weeks.
Chicagoan Gregory Perry, of the 5900 block of West Ohio was arrested after reportedly being observed reaching through the broken passenger window of a car on the 700 block of North Austin Boulevard around 10 p.m., Sept. 29, and removing various items. He was turned over to Chicago police. Around 4 a.m., Sept. 29, Robert J. Ryza, 21, of Elmwood Park was stopped for an alleged traffic violation on the 600 block of Randolph Street. He reportedly bolted from the car and was caught a short time later in a nearby alley. Police say Ryza, was driving, on a suspended license, a car reported stolen earlier on the 300 block of South East Avenue. He also allegedly burglarized two other cars, one in the 200 block of Wesley Avenue and the 300 block of South Euclid Avenue.
The morning of Sept. 27, a woman walked up to her 2007 Volvo, parked on the 900 block of Lake Street and observed a teenage girl in the driver’s seat. The woman fought briefly with the girl before she ran off.
Other vehicles were burglarized on the 100 block of South Kenilworth Avenue, 100 block of North Humphrey, 200 block of South Oak Park Avenue and 200 block of Austin Boulevard overnight Sept. 27, and overnight Sept. 24 on the 900 block of North Austin Boulevard.
“Breaking a window is the easiest way to get into a car,” said Deputy Chief Bob Scianna, who also said it was by far the most common means of entry. Another way is to use a lock pull, though those are not readily available except for professionals such as locksmiths.
No matter how many people police arrest, Scianna said, the effect is only temporary.
“All we can do is continue to be vigilant, and our [officers] are,” he said.
Battery
A Cicero woman walking on the 6100 block of Roosevelt Road, the night of Sept. 27, was approached by a man who grabbed her breasts and buttocks. When the woman told the man she wasn’t a prostitute and yelled rape, he jumped into a waiting car.
Burglary
A Forest Park officer pulled a Bellwood man over at First Avenue and the Eisenhower Expressway and arrested him, the afternoon of September 25. Mitchell D. Sharpley was later identified as the person an Oak Park man watched allegedly leave his garage with numerous stolen items and enter a waiting van. The man called in the van’s description and license plate number.
Maurice Wade, 27, who was reportedly found in possession of a pair of 3.5-ton auto jacks shortly before 2 a.m., Sept. 28, allegedly admitted to police that he took them from an unlocked garage on the 200 block of South Oak Park Avenue.
Sometime during the day, Sept. 26, someone used a chair under a window to enter a home on the 800 block of North Taylor Avenue. A 42-inch plasma screen TV, valued at $1,800, was stolen.
Someone pulled the lock on the door of a home on the 600 block of South Grove Avenue, the afternoon of Sept. 26, and stole two electronic game consoles and 10 games, valued at $450.
Theft
Jonathon F. Martinez, 20, an employee of TCF Bank, 7525 Lake St., was arrested Sept. 26 and charged with allegedly withdrawing, without authorization, $4,000 from a TCF account, using another person’s debit card.
Corey D. Cornelius, 28, of the 3500 block of West McClean Avenue, Chicago, was allegedly observed by store security at the Dominick’s, 259 Lake St., placing items in a shopping cart and leaving without paying.
Three Chicago girls were arrested Sept. 25 after being identified as the persons who took an Oak Park girl’s cellphone while at the Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St.
Bikes, most of them unlocked and unattended, were stolen last week on the 400 block of North Austin Boulevard, 500 block of Washington Boulevard, 400 block of Madison, first block of South Ridgeland Avenue and 1100 block of Chicago Avenue.
DUI
Lori Blue, of the 1700 block of North Laramie, Chicago, was stopped for an alleged traffic violation in the 300 block of Division Street around 10:30 p.m., Sept. 29. Police say Bell had no valid driver’s license and failed a field sobriety test. She latter reportedly blew a .381 on a breathalyzer test, nearly five times the legal limit.
Jose Gonzales, Jr. of Chicago was stopped on the 200 block of Madison for an alleged traffic offense just before 3 a.m., Sept. 29. Police say Gonzales smelled strongly of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes, and failed a field sobriety test.
Hector V. Morales, was pulled over around 2:30 a.m. on Madison near Park Avenue and charged with alleged DUI.
Drugs
Donald S. Pande, 46, of Schaumburg was observed sitting in the driver’s seat of a car parked in the McDonald’s lot, 111 Madison St., the evening of Sept. 28, with a needle allegedly in his arm. His passenger, Alicia R. Sartain, 22, of West Chicago, was allegedly observed sitting in the rear seat with two packets of suspected heroin next to her, with another two packets on the center console.
Police stopped a car for an alleged traffic violation on the 200 block of Harrision Street, the night of Sept. 28. A passenger, Michael L. Weber, 21, of Arlington Heights, allegedly was observed with an orange bottle cap and a needle and syringe next to it. He exited the car and reportedly pushed both officers. A custody search allegedly found him in possession of a baggie containing suspected heroin.
Robbery
Two teenage boys approached an Oak Park man near Austin Boulevard and Pleasant Street, shortly before 10 p.m., Sept. 25. One struck the man in the back of the head and said, “Give me what you have.” When the man handed over his cellphone and wallet, both boys then punched the man in the face and ran.
A man approached an Oak Park woman from behind on the 600 block of South Euclid Avenue, the morning of Sept. 27, knocked her down and snatched her purse.
These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Oak Park and River Forest police departments from Sept.23 to Oct. 1. 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.
-Compiled by Bill Dwyer
