Months After Embezzling Over $14,000 From Glenview Auto Parts Store, Mount Prospect Man Arrested: Cops

GLENVIEW, IL — A 25-year-old former employee of a Glenview auto parts store was charged with embezzling more than $14,000. Patrick G. Dannhauer, of the 500 block of North Elm Street in Mount Prospect was arrested Sept. 13 and charged with engaging in a continuing financial crimes enterprise.

Dannhauer is accused of creating false returns while working at Glenbrook Auto Parts, as well as taking cash from the store's register, crediting his personal debit card and stealing cash from actual returns of parts, according to a criminal complaint. Police said he conducted hundreds of fake transactions.

Glenview detectives began their investigation after a theft was reported to police on May 8. According to the incident report, the business owner told police someone had been issuing false cash refunds worth more than $11,000 between Jan. 4 and April 24.

By that point, Dannhauer's employment at the NAPA auto parts affiliate had come to an end, Glenview Police Sgt. Rob Francois said. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Evanston — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Continuing financial crimes enterprise of between $10,000 and $100,000 is a felony, carrying a possible sentence of between three and seven years in state prison, according to statute.

Dannhauer, who could not be reached for comment, was released from custody on his own recognizance ahead of a scheduled Oct. 19 court date, according to court records.

_{Top photo: Patrick Dannhauer booking photograph | via Glenview PD}