Man on parole for burglary charged with bike theft
A man who previously admitted committing more than 35 burglaries in Riverside, and who was out on parole for those offenses, is back in jail after being arrested in Riverside for possessing a bicycle stolen in River Forest.
Earl I. Toomer, 21, of Chicago, is being held at Cook County Jail with bond set at $10,000. He had a June 28 preliminary scheduled at the Maybrook courthouse.
A Riverside police officer reported confronting Toomer about 1:10 a.m. on June 25 as he rode a bicycle from driveway to driveway near the intersection of Nuttall and Loudon roads. Toomer was dressed in dark clothing and, according to Police Chief Thomas Weitzel, “was definitely out looking to victimize Riverside residents.”
In the past several weeks, Riverside residents have reported several garage and residential burglaries. Toomer, in 2013, was charged with seven counts of burglary for offenses committed in Riverside and North Riverside. At the time of his arrest, he reportedly confessed to more than 35 burglaries from vehicles in the village.
He subsequently pleaded guilty to those charges and was sentenced to three years in prison. Toomer was paroled in September 2015.
When police checked the serial number of the bicycle Toomer was riding, they learned it had been reported stolen out of River Forest on June 23. The bike was described as a high-end Specialized Myka bike valued at more than $800. The bicycle was turned over to its owner.
Toomer, who was charged with one count of theft, was also in possession of an iPod mini, a senior citizens’ public transportation free-ride pass, and a set of keys that did not belong to him, according to police.
Riverside police sought felony charges due to Toomer’s background and the fact he was on parole. However, the Cook County State’s Attorney declined to file felony charges. The Illinois Department of Corrections also reportedly declined Riverside’s request that a parole violation be issued.
“The fact that Mr. Toomer is out of prison after his felony convictions for burglary in 2013 and returned to Riverside to continue to commit crimes is indication of a true repeat offender,” Weitzel said. “I am very disappointed that felony charges were rejected and that the Illinois Department of Corrections would not file a parole violation at this time.”
Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon arrest
Two male juveniles were arrested for unlawful use of a weapon when a traffic stop in the 100 block of South Austin Boulevard in Oak Park at 4:51 p.m. on June 24 revealed them each to be in possession of handguns. Both were also charged with unlawful possession of ammunition and were transported to juvenile detention.
Theft
Two packages containing a blue quilt and an Envizen 10.1-inch tablet were stolen from the vestibule of a building in the 100 block of Harrison Street in Oak Park, sometime between 12:57 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on June 24. The total loss was an estimated $236.18.
Burglary to garage
A garage was burglarized in the 200 block of South Scoville Avenue in Oak Park sometime between 8 p.m. on June 22 and 4:56 p.m. on June 25. The offenders entered the garage through an unlocked side door and stole a black Specialized Tricross mountain bike worth $1,000.
Burglary
Someone stole a men’s blue LeMond Alpe Dhuez road-racing bicycle from a garage in the 1200 block of Fair Oaks Avenue in Oak Park, sometime between 4:30 p.m. and 5:25 p.m. on June 25. The offender entered the garage by using the garage door opener left inside an unlocked 2003 GMC Yukon. The loss was a total $952.
These items, obtained from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments, came from reports, June 22-26, 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 Timothy Inklebarger and Bob Uphues