Woman Who Claimed Vehicle Was Stolen Actually Crashed it in Creek: Police

A Beach Park woman claiming her vehicle was stolen now faces felony charges after police learned she actually crashed her car into a creek before leaving the accident scene, according to a Lake County Sheriff’s Office press release.

Nancy Facundo, 21, of the 38200 block of North Sheridan Road, was taken into custody last week after a $25,000 arrest warrant was issued for her arrest on felony charges of false report of a vehicle theft, a class 2 felony, and disorderly conduct-making a false police report - a class 4 felony.

She is accused of reporting to sheriff’s office deputies last month that her 2002 Dodge Durango was stolen from her home after she left it unlocked. The day after the report was filed, the Waukegan Police Department responded to a report of vehicle crashed in a creek near North Jackson Street and Low Avenue.

They determined the Durango belonged to Facundo. Officers “became suspicious of the vehicle being stolen, as evidence was located in the vehicle, which appeared ’staged,’” according to the news release.

Police said Facundo admitted to Waukegan Police Officers that she’d falsely reported her vehicle was stolen after losing control and crashing it into the creek.

Facundo is expected in court on Nov. 23.