A man attempted to rob U.S Bank, 6011 North Ave., Feb. 26, but left without any cash. The offender entered the bank at 11:27 a.m. and demanded money, telling a bank employee he had a gun. The man then fled the scene without taking any money.
Police reports describe the man as being black, of medium build, around 5 feet, 5 inches tall and 30 to 40 years old. He was last seen wearing a black jacket with a fur-trimmed hood and dark pants.
Acting on a tip, Oak Park and River Forest police pulled over 86-year old Ottis Dugar and his wife Demitri, 67, that same day, shortly after the couple left the bank. According to ABC7, the couple was handcuffed and detained for 40 minutes in separate vehicles. ABC 7 also reported that the police had guns drawn.
In a statement to the press, Oak Park police called the incident “a case of mistaken identity.” The statement also states that a witness “provided a description of the car and its license plate number to the 911 operator, who broadcast the information.” That witness continued to say the couple were the individuals he witnessed leaving the bank after the attempted robbery.
However, a bank teller refuted the witness’ statement and the Dugars were subsequently released with apologies from the police.
In a further statement to the press, the police called the incident “an unfortunate situation that in hindsight probably could have been handled more expeditiously.”
Aggravated assault
A young man stopped a Chicago resident and asked the resident’s gang affiliation; when the victim denied any affiliation, the man took out a black semi-automatic handgun March 1 at 7:15 p.m. in the 400 block of South Euclid Avenue. Police reports describe the man as black, 22 years old, 5-foot-10, and 150 pounds. He was last seen wearing a brown/blue hooded coat and blue jeans.
Robbery
Two men met with Berwyn residents to make a purchase, but instead stole an Apple watch, hoverboard and iPhone from the victims at 2:52 p.m., March 1, in the 600 block of Washington Boulevard. The estimated loss is $1,400.
Theft
A teenage boy snatched a woman’s red iPhone 8 from her hands and ran from the scene with another teenage boy in the 100 block of North Marion Street at 12:41 p.m. Feb. 26. The two teenagers were last seen driving westbound in a black Jeep Compass. Police estimate the loss of the phone at $800.
Burglary
- Someone broke the window above a rear door, then entered the residence and took glass circular paperweights, miscellaneous men’s jewelry, $6 in cash, a 19th-century pocket watch, and a brown Briggs & Riley travel bag between noon and 2 p.m. on Feb. 24 in the 400 block of South Humphrey Avenue. Police estimate the loss at $4,706.
- Someone entered an apartment through an unlocked door and removed a small black-and-blue heat press, a pink women’s Nike shirt, a black leather Pelle Pelle jacket and a purple Apple MacBook Air laptop between 2 p.m., Feb. 22 and 8:45 p.m., Feb. 24 in the first block of Ontario Street. The loss is estimated at $1,680.
- Someone attempted to force open a window and damaged the door frame to a residence in an attempted burglary, Feb. 25 at 1:56 p.m., in the 100 block of Washington Boulevard. Police estimate the damage at $100.
- Someone entered a residence through an unlocked sliding door and took a 15-inch gray MacBook Pro laptop, an iPad with a black case, a black HD digital camcorder and a green book bag between 10:30 and 11:30 p.m., Feb. 27, in the 900 block of Home Avenue. The estimated loss is $3,350.
- Three men, two of whom wore masks, shattered the front window and broke into Family Fresh Food & Deli, 10 Chicago Ave., then attempted to remove the ATM without success at 3:11 a.m., Feb. 28.
These items, obtained from Oak Park Police Department reports, Feb. 24 to March 2, 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.
