Scammed Twice, Forced Way Inside: Elmhurst Cops

ELMHURST, IL — In the last few days, Elmhurst police have handled cases involving a resident twice victimized by the same scammer, a woman who forced her way into a house, a disturbance at the hospital, broken windows and falls, among other incidents. Here is information from the latest Elmhurst police reports:

Scammed twice

• In 2019, a resident in the 1000 block of South Euclid Avenue sent checks to a suspect, who claimed the resident would receive a lot more money in return. The resident never got the money. The resident said he was contacted again in 2021 by the same suspect and again sent more checks. The report was filed Thursday.

Forced way inside

• A resident in the 200 block of North Larch Avenue told police that his ex-wife forced her way inside his house and pushed and kicked him before leaving with the resident's cell phone about 9 a.m. Friday. An officer tried to contact the ex-wife, but was unsuccessful. An investigation is pending.

Suspicious activity

• Police were told about a person looking underneath cars about 3:30 a.m. Thursday in a parking lot in the 800 block of North York Street. An officer saw a dark sedan leave the parking lot and speed south on York. Officers could not find the sedan. The parking lot activity may have been someone trying to remove catalytic converters from cars.

Verbally abusive

• A patient at Elmhurst Hospital, 155 E. Brush Hill Road, was verbally abusive to staff about 4:30 a.m. Friday. Hospital security said the man was seen by a doctor and cleared to leave. The man was given a no-trespass notice and released.

Broken windows

• A resident in the 300 block of South Poplar Avenue told police that someone threw a rock at the front window of a house shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday. The suspect was described as a light-skinned man, having a slim build, and wearing a light cap, a dark jacket, black pants and gloves.
• A passenger side window of a car parked in a driveway was shattered between 6:30 a.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. Thursday in the 100 block of Elm Tree Lane.
• A rock was thrown through an exterior storm door window between 6 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. Thursday in the 100 block of South Linden Avenue.

Car part stolen

• A catalytic converter was stolen from a car between 8 p.m. Jan. 2 and 9:30 a.m. Jan. 3 in a parking lot in the 800 block of North York Street.

Falls

• A man tripped and fell while he was walking home about 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Park and Adell. He was taken to the hospital.
• A woman slipped and fell on an icy sidewalk about 12:30 p.m. Sunday in the 200 block of South Chandler. She was taken to the hospital.

Forgery

• A resident in the 900 block of South Chatham told police that someone forged a check using his checking account and routing number to withdraw money Jan. 3. The resident reported the forgery to BMO Harris Bank.

Harassment

• A resident in the 500 block of North Emroy Avenue told police she received an email Dec. 23 from a suspect who had been previously advised to cease contact. The case is pending an investigation.

Fugitive driver

• An officer tried to stop a driver for speeding about 5 a.m. Sunday, but the driver sped away, last seen heading east on North Avenue.

Overdose

• An officer responded to a medical call for a Lyft driver who had a customer in the back seat overdosing about 8:30 p.m. Sunday. The passenger's father was performing CPR, but the victim did not appear to be breathing. The officer administered one dose of Narcan, and the victim started to breathe again. He was taken to the hospital.