Fake Water Department Employee Behind 'Ruse Burglary': Blotter

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The following information comes from the Highland Park and Highwood police departments and public records as a record of incidents reported to the police and of those arrested by police. Criminal charges represent accusations by the state that are often dropped or reduced. Updated information may be available from the Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Everyone arrested is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.

INCIDENTS

THEFT FROM VEHICLE
Someone stole a catalytic converter from a Honda parked in the lot for repairs at Muller Honda, 550 Skokie Valley Road, at some point between Aug. 13 and Sept. 17.

THEFT
Someone pried open a storage room door and removed is knob in an underground garage in the apartment building at 1240 Park Avenue West, stealing 20 50-pound bags of ice melt from within.

HOME BURGLARY
During the first week of June, someone stole a watch and a pair of sunglasses from inside a home in the 700 block of Central Avenue. Police reported watch was later found at Cash America Pawn and returned to its owner.

THEFT
Someone stole a picnic table from the Highland Park Senior Center, 54 Laurel Ave., which was last seen in June.

'RUSE' HOME BURGLARY
A man pretending to be an employee of the water department talked his way into a home in the 1800 block of Cooper Lane on or before Sept. 24. The man took the resident into the kitchen and spoke loudly as the resident ran the faucet for about five minutes. During the incident, an employee of the resident noticed another man go into the bedroom before leaving quickly. The suspects left in a blue car, described as a hatchback or SUV. Police were told burglars made off with a collection of five high-end watches worth $175,000 and may have also stolen jewelry.

CRIMINAL DAMAGE
During the night of Sept. 25 or morning of Sept. 26, someone smashed the window of a Honda pickup truck parked in a driveway in the 2100 block of Kipling Lane.

MAIL THEFT
Someone stole two gift cards worth a combined $75 that had been delivered to a home in the 900 block of Bob-O-Link Road prior to the evening of Sept. 26. The business who sent them reported that they were delivered to the proper address and that someone had spent them at several businesses.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

Mark P. Furman, 44, of the 500 block of West 14th Place, Chicago, was arrested around 6:15 p.m. on Sept. 20 in the parking lot of the Highland Park Police Department on a warrant issued by authorities in McHenry County in connection with his failure to appear in court there.

Judith A. Golan, 84, of the 500 block of County Line Road, Highland Park, was arrested around 8 p.m. on Sept. 20 in the 800 block of Deerfield Road and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after police were dispatched to a well-being check. Officers also issued her citations for driving without lights when required, improper lane usage and an improper left turn.

David W. Komperda, 46, of the 4100 block of Midlane Drive, Wadsworth, was arrested around noon on Sept. 21 and charged with leaving the scene of an accident, driving with a suspended or revoked license and driving under the influence of alcohol after police said was responsible for a hit-and-run crash in the 2300 block of Skokie Valley Road. Officers also issued him a citation for illegal transportation of alcohol.

Porscha Hamilton, 29, of the 500 block of Vine Avenue, Highland Park, was arrested around 4:15 p.m. on Sept. 23 on a warrant issued by authorities in DuPage County in connection with her failure to appear in court after police were called to a report of a dispute on her block.

Kreidy M. Bohorques, 19, of the 5400 block of West Thomas Street, Chicago, was arrested around 8:45 a.m. on Sept. 26 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol , driving under the influence of alcohol with a breath alcohol concentration of 0.08 or greater and driving without a license after officers found her slumped over in the driver's seat of a car parked in the 2100 block of Linden Avenue.

Earlier: Hydrant, Tree, Sign, Cable Box Struck In Hit-And-Run; 57-year-old Highland Park Woman Accused Of Drugged Driving; 29-year-old Highwood Man Faces Felony Battery Charges: Highland Park Police Blotter, Sept. 14 to Sept. 20

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