Overnight burglars target purses, wallets
A series of three burglaries in the early-morning hours, overnight Nov. 12-13 in the 1000 blocks of Wisconsin and Wenonah avenues, targeted purses and wallets. Two homes were entered between midnight and 4 a.m. via unlocked rear doors and one was entered by cutting the kitchen window screen. Two purses, a wallet and a black work bag were removed, and some items were found ransacked and left in the alley. Earlier the previous week in the 1000 block of Wisconsin between 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., Nov. 5, burglars entered a residence via an unlocked basement door and made off with electronics valued at $2,000.
Robbery arrest
Police arrested a 15-year-old Forest Park juvenile for an aggravated robbery and aggravated battery that took place in the 700 block of Lyman Avenue around 8:30 p.m., Nov. 13. The juvenile was referred to court and turned over to his mother.
Robbers display handgun
A black semi-automatic handgun was displayed in an armed robbery of a couple in the 800 block of Washington around 7:30 p.m., Nov. 15. Two suspects demanded the victims’ cellphones, wallet and purse.
Random act of battery
Around 7:30 p.m., Nov. 15, near Randolph Street and Kenilworth Avenue, a female victim told police she was approached by an unknown man, who muttered something unintelligible, then grabbed her neck and threw her to the ground.
Retail theft
Store employees at a pharmacy at 300 Madison Street told Oak Park police a man wearing a Chicago Bulls cap entered the shop around 10:15 a.m., Nov. 5, and concealed $357 worth of pain medicine under his clothing, then carried it out the door without paying.
Burglary
On Nov. 15 in the morning, someone entered a house in the 1000 block of South Lyman Avenue through an unlocked rear door and removed electronics, cash and cigarettes worth $1,030.
Someone opened a garage with an electronic opener in the 400 block of Lenox Street, overnight Nov. 4-5, and removed two bicycles.
Someone entered an open garage in the 500 block of South East Avenue during the day, Nov. 5, and removed a men’s white bicycle worth $1,000.
Trespassing
Sometime between Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, someone broke into a vacant residence in the 600 block of South Humphrey Avenue by breaking a window and opening the deadbolt. Bedding items not belonging to the victim were left behind.
Heroin arrest
A 33-year-old Algonquin man was stopped by Oak Park police in the 100 block of South Elgin Avenue in Forest Park and was found to be in possession of five green bags containing an off-white powdery substance thought to be heroin. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Suspicious person
River Forest police and District 90 schools issued a warning of a possible child-luring attempt at 3:30 p.m., Nov. 11, near the intersection of LeMoyne Parkway and Monroe Avenue. A man standing in a driveway near a white work van allegedly called to a walking elementary school student and told the student to “come here.” The student ignored the subject and continued walking. River Forest police investigators determined there was no 40- to 45-year-old male subject fitting the description who lived in the residence. The River Forest police will continue to investigate, they said in a press release. D90 issued a warning and safety tips for students and parents.
These items, obtained from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments, came from reports, Nov. 5-13, 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.
— Compiled by Jean Lotus
