Attempted Burglary, Harassment: Elmhurst Cops

ELMHURST, IL – In the last few days, Elmhurst police handled cases involving attempted burglary, harassment, retail theft, damage, fraud, a custody dispute, a missing ring and stolen converters. Here is information from the latest Elmhurst police reports:

Attempted burglary

• Police responded to a burglar alarm about 8:30 a.m. Monday in the 400 block of Elmcrest Avenue. They found a window shattered. A white fence to the backyard had two planks kicked out. A neighbor said she saw a white or Hispanic man wearing a black coat and mask in a blue Chevrolet Equinox in the area.

Harassment

• A resident in the 100 block of North Michigan told police that her ex-boyfriend left her numerous telephone messages. The victim saw the man about 6 p.m. Monday at her apartment building. An officer tried to contact the ex-boyfriend, but was unsuccessful.

Retail theft

• Sean Bitto, 38, of Chicago, was cited about 6:30 p.m. Monday at Jewel, 944 S. York, on two counts of retail theft. According to a police report, Bitto concealed two bottles of liquor and left the store without paying. He was taken to the DuPage County Jail.

Damage

• Three emergency floodlight units were damaged and removed about 2 p.m. Monday at the Addison Avenue parking deck.

Fraud

• A resident in the 100 block of Fellows Court told police Monday that someone used her personal information to fraudulently file income taxes with the IRS.
• A person at Elmhurst University, 190 S. Prospect Ave., was messaged on Instagram multiple times by a person who went by the name "Gianna." Gianna gave the victim four checks to deposit into her account and asked the victim to send the cash back. The victim sent the money to the suspect and was notified by the bank that the checks were fraudulent.

Custody dispute

• A person in the 400 block of East Court reported a child custody dispute between her and her child's father about 7 p.m. Monday. An officer recommended the woman obtain a child custody agreement signed by a judge.

Theft

• Sunbelt Rentals, 741 S. Route 83, told police Tuesday that a person rented a 19-foot scissor lift in August 2021 and had not returned it. A message was left with the renter to contact the police.

Stolen ring

• A customer at Bath and Body Works, 171 Route 83, took off her ring and placed it on the sink in the store and tried on different lotions about 1 p.m. Tuesday. After returning home, she realized she forgot her ring and contacted the store. Employees searched for the ring, but were unable to find it.

Vehicle burglary

• The driver's side rear window was shattered on a white Ford pickup between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday in the 500 block of North West Avenue. A Ditch Witch locator and monitor inside the truck were stolen.

Converters stolen

• Four catalytic converters were stolen from four work vans Wednesday at Commercial Maintenance Enterprises, 770 N. Industrial Drive.

Driving violations

• Joseph Fugate, 29, of Naperville, was cited about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of North York on charges of driving with a revoked license, unlawful use of a phone while driving and driving an uninsured motor vehicle. He was released on bond.
• Mario Castro Lopez, 20, of Melrose Park, was cited about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at North and Highland on charges of no valid driver's license, driving an uninsured motor vehicle and no valid registration. He was released on bond.

Police report information is provided by local police departments. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and people charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.