Roll of Toilet Paper Destroyed in Portable Toilet Arson: Blotter

Torch Job

Someone torched a portable toilet in O’Brien Park at 2000 Butterfield Road sometime before 8:33 p.m. Sept. 6.

Police went to help the Downers Grove Fire Department when someone reported smoke coming from the Service Sanitation-owned portable toilet.

The fire was out by the time officers arrived. The fire department said it looked like someone had tried to ignite a roll of wet toilet paper.

A roll of toilet paper was destroyed, but there was no damage to the portable toilet.

‘Please Don’t Steal the Charmin’’

A Chicago man was charged with retail theft after he was observed walking out of a home improvement store with $472 worth of stolen merchandise, reports said.

The man, later identified as Frank Puentes Martinez, 19, entered the Home Depot at 2000 Butterfield Road around 12:09 p.m. Sept. 6.

A store security guard watched Martinez place a camera and other items into a shopping cart, including Charmin’ paper towels, air fresheners, candy, a photoelectric alarm. long nose pliers, a water filter and light fixture, reports said.

Martinez allegedly tried leaving the store through the lumber yard entrance but turned back when he set off the store alarm.

The security guard followed Martinez through the store as he made his way to the self-checkout lanes, police said.

When he did not see anyone following him, Martinez paused by a gumball machine in the vestibule before making his way outside, according to the report.

Martinez was stopped outside by store security. When police arrived, Martinez allegedly gave the officer another name.

The officer found a credit card in Martinez’s wallet with his real name, which Martinez said belonged to a co-worker, reports said.

Martinez was taken into custody. As he was being escorted to the police squad car, the officer said Martinez expressed concern that his car would be towed from the lot.

After being told that officers would run Martinez’s plate, police said he divulged his true identity, informing the officer, “you’re going to find out anyway.”

Police said that Martinez gave them permission to search his car. Other items in their original packaging were found in the back seat, which scanned as belonging to Home Depot.

Martinez allegedly told police that he bought the items because he is a contractor but did not have the receipts. Police said unless he could produce the receipts, the merchandise would be returned to the store.

Martinez was also charged with obstructing his identity. He has a court date on Oct. 15.