Thanks to a surveillance video from a nearby village and a regional crime bulletin program, the River Forest police department managed to nab a man suspected of breaking into a River Forest business, stealing a purse, and later making charges to credit cards he found inside.
Craig Kelly, 50, of the 800 block of S. 9th Ave. in Maywood, was arrested May 25 after River Forest officers spotted and stopped his vehicle. Kelly was charged with felony charges of unlawful use of credit cards. Illinois state police records showed that Kelly had 24 previous criminal convictions including robbery, burglary, and forgery.
The burglary incident in question occurred at a business located on the 7900 block of Madison on May 10. The offender broke a padlock on a locker in the employee break room, and removed a purse, which contained other miscellaneous items along with the credit cards.
But according to River Forest police, the suspect is thought to be responsible for at least three burglaries, two at The Good Earth nursery, and one at the River Forest Community Center, both on Madison. Police Chief Gregory Weiss said that the arrest likely prevented additional burglaries.
“This arrest hopefully ends the string of thefts we experienced along Madison Street,” said Weiss. “This has a farther reaching impact then just someone stealing someone else’s property.”
Weiss said the arrest was possible thanks to the exchange of intelligence between different law enforcement agencies. Critical Force is a crime bulletin program which facilitates the exchange of information about pending investigations, and helped lead to the arrest. That included the surveillance video of Kelly using the credit cards to make purchases in Hillside.
Flipped vehicle leads to DUI arrest
Francisco J. Reyes, 34, of the 5900 block of W. Waveland in Chicago, was arrested and charged with aggravated driving under the influence, and two counts of driving under the influence. Reyes’ vehicle struck a tree, and was flipped over when police arrived at the scene, on the 1100 block of S. Ridgeland on May 28.
Aggravated vehicular hijacking
Two unknown offenders approached a victim seated in a 1994 Honda Accord parked on the 300 block of S. Harvey on May 23. One offender displayed a dark revolver and demanded the vehicle. The victim complied, and the two offenders entered the vehicle and drove away, leaving the victim behind. The vehicle contained the victim’s car and home keys, and six gallons of paint. Estimated loss is $2,000.
Theft
An unknown offender removed a U.S. Mail package containing a Lands End bathing suit from a vestibule in a building located on the 200 block of S. Home on May 19. Estimated loss is $80.
An unknown offender removed a motorized electric wheelchair that was left unsecured and unattended in the front yard of a location on the 800 block of S. Maple on May 23. Estimated loss is $5,000.
An unknown offender removed a gold clutch purse containing a Blackberry 9300 cell phone from a location on the 1000 block of Lake on May 27. Estimated loss is $425.
An unknown offender removed a Samsung Galaxy S cell phone and case from one victim and an Apple iPhone 3G cell phone and case from a second victim at a location on the 500 block of Garfield on May 30. Estimated loss is $380.
Residential burglary
An unknown offender entered a residence on the 1000 block of Randolph between May 20 and 24 and removed approximately $215 in cash.
An unknown offender entered a residence on the 700 block of N. Humphrey on May 29, ransacked the interior and removed a 31-inch LG television, an Apple Macbook laptop computer, cash, and jewelry. Estimated loss is $1,397.
An unknown offender entered a residence on the 600 block of S. Humphrey on May 29, ransacked the bedrooms, and removed music equipment, an Apple iPad, a Toshiba notebook, a Samsung cell phone, a Fender guitar, and miscellaneous jewelry. Estimated loss is $4,750.
Burglary to garage
An unknown offender entered a garage on the 900 block of N. Lombard on May 24 and removed a Honda snowblower, a Honda lawnmower, and a boys Trek Jet 16 bicycle. The offender also entered the vehicle parked inside the garage and removed an iPod Nano and an iPad computer. Estimated loss is $2,800.
An unknown offender entered a garage on the 900 block of N. Lombard on May 24 and removed a Skil saw and a Dewalt drill. Estimated loss is $600.
Burglary to motor vehicle
An unknown offender entered a 2005 Chevy Classic parked in the rear of a location on the 1200 block of Forest on May 26 and removed a digital Nikon camera and an iPod mini MP3 player. Estimated loss is $250.
An unknown offender entered a vehicle parked on the 100 block of Forest Place between May 22 and 25 and removed electronic items, a brief case, and a pair of sunglasses. Estimated loss is $1,520.
An unknown offender entered a vehicle parked on the 100 block of Forest between May 24 and 25 and removed a 12-inch black military K-Back knife, and also slashed a tire on the vehicle. Estimated loss and damage is $250.
An unknown offender entered a vehicle parked on the 600 block of W. Harrison on May 28 and removed a Verizon Android cell phone and two car cell phone chargers. Estimated loss is $140.
An unknown offender entered a vehicle parked on the 800 block of Wenonah and removed a Pioneer radio faceplate. Estimated loss is $100.
Driving under the influence
Oralia Deleon, 53, of the 7500 block of W. Belmont in Chicago, was arrested on the 7200 block of Lake on May 27 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without valid insurance, and improper lane usage. Deleon’s blood alcohol content was .19.
David Campillo, 29, of the 600 block of Gunderson, was arrested on the 600 block of Home on May 27 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
Forgery arrest
Denoris Brown, 42, of the 1000 block of N. Taylor, was arrested on May 23 and charged with forgery, for submitting a fraudulent United States bankruptcy document in an attempt to get out of paying $3,500 in parking citations to the village of Oak Park.
These items were obtained from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments from May 24 to May 31, 2011. 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.