Restaurant Embezzlement, Stolen Car: Elmhurst Cops

ELMHURST, IL – In the last few days, Elmhurst police handled cases involving embezzlement at a restaurant, a stolen car, theft of car parts, domestic violence and a gift card scam. Here is information from the latest police reports:

Restaurant embezzlement

• Jersey Mike’s, 297 N. York St., reported that a former employee had taken cash from a safe about 8 p.m. June 13. An investigation is pending.

Car stolen

• A 2011 black Kia Sorrento was stolen overnight Sunday in the 400 block of West Butterfield Road. The owner left the key fob inside the unlocked car. It was parked in the apron of the driveway. It was found by Franklin Park police the following day.

Theft of car parts

• Catalytic converters were stolen between June 25 and June 28 from two Isuzu box trucks at TransChicago Trucking, 776 N. York St. Each truck had two converters. Metals in converters have become a lot more valuable since last year.

Domestic violence

• A man became physical and grabbed a woman about 11 a.m. Monday at Extended Stay America hotel, 550 W. Grand Ave., when she asked for the return of her car keys. The suspect left in the victim’s car. A warrant was issued for the suspect's arrest. The incident was labeled domestic violence.

Gift card scam

• A resident in the 400 block of Spring Road told police Monday that a person mailed a letter and a check to him. The letter instructed the resident to deposit the check, purchase Walmart gift cards as a secret shopper, and text the gift cards and their security information to the suspect. The resident attempted to cash the check, but learned it was fraudulent.

Car abandoned

• A person tried to drive through standing water at Robert Palmer Drive and York Street, causing her car to become disabled, about 2:30 a.m. June 21. The woman requested a tow for her car once the water receded. An officer said the car was blocking traffic and impeding cleanup efforts. The car was towed away.

Flag taken down

• On two occasions this week, someone pulled down a flag from the front porch of a house in the 200 block of Addison Avenue. The flag hooks and ceiling were damaged.

Fugitive driver

• An officer tried to stop a car that was reported stolen in Rosemont about 9:30 p.m. Monday at North and Berteau. But the car sped away onto Interstate 290.

DUI

• Mabel Rodriguez, 44, of Joliet, was arrested about 1 a.m. Monday at North and Route 83 on charges of DUI, obstructing justice, improper lane usage, failure to signal when changing lanes and disobeying a traffic control device. She was taken to the DuPage County Jail.

Driving violations

• Shante McCray, 31, of Chicago, was cited about 11:30 p.m. Monday at North and Melrose on charges of no valid driver’s license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, improper lane usage and no license plates displayed. She was released on bond.
• Keonna M. Gillespie, 37, of Berkeley, was cited about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at York and Vallette on charges of driving with a suspended license and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. She was released on bond.
• Esteban Ramirez-Garduno, 35, of Berwyn, was cited about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday at York and Lake on charges of driving with a revoked license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and disobeying a traffic control device. 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 persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.