Thieves Wanted to Be Clean, Warm and Fragrant: Blotter

NOV. 17

Retail Theft

Ashly Collins, 23, of the 1500 block of Euclid Avenue, Chicago Heights, was charged with retail theft after being accused of trying to take off with more than $170 worth of women’s shirts Nov. 17 from a department store, according to Homewood police reports.

A loss prevention officer for Kohl’s, 17620 Halsted St., contacted police after observing Collins entering a fitting room with items from the women’s department and exiting it with nothing, the report stated, adding that no items had been left in the room after Collins left. Another loss prevention officer stopped Collins outside the store and brought her back to the security office, the report added.

While in the security office, Collins removed the merchandise, three shirts totalling $173, from her purse, the report stated.

NOV. 15

Lawn Ornaments Stolen

A concrete deer and goose lawn ornaments valued at $100 were reported stolen between 10 a.m. Nov. 14, and 6 a.m. Nov. 15, from the yard of a home in the 300 block of Hedgerow Lane, according to Homewood police reports.

NOV. 13

DUI

Gina Haswah, 40, of the 1200 block of 175th Street, East Hazel Crest, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, improper lane use, driving without insurance and driving without a working rear registration plate light after a Nov. 13 traffic stop, according to Homewood police reports.

An officer noticed Haswah swerving at about 1:06 a.m., as she drove south on Dixie Highway with her rear registration plate light out, the report stated. After being stopped in the 18600 block of Dixie Highway, Haswah told the officer she had been taking friends home and had drank two beers that night, the report added.

According to the report, the officer could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from Haswah, as well as noticing that her eyes were watery and bloodshot and her speech was “slurred and mush-mouthed.”

Stolen Wallet

A wallet was reported stolen from an unlocked car between 4:30 and 5:20 a.m. Nov. 13 in the 18100 block of Highland Avenue, according to Homewood police.

Stolen Vehicle

Brandon Pitts, 25, of the 4000 block of Indian Hills Drive, Country Club Hills, was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of another person’s credit card, two counts of identity theft and speeding after a Nov. 13 traffic stop, according to Homewood police reports.

Police stopped Pitts near the intersection of 183rd Street and Harwood Avenue after clocking him going 43 mph in a 25-mph zone, the report stated. A computer check on the vehicle Pitts was driving revealed it to be stolen, the report added. Pitts said he had recently purchased the car from an ad on Craigslist, the report stated.

NOV. 12

Felony Retail Theft

Thomas Hall, 49, of the 1700 block of Richards Court, Flossmoor, was arrested and charged with felony retail theft after being accused of taking off with almost $80 worth of air fresheners and shaving trimmers Nov. 12 from a drug store, according to Homewood police reports.

Police were contacted at about 1:20 p.m. that a man had stolen items from Walgreens, 820 183rd St., then fled toward Halsted Street, the report stated. An officer spotted Hall, who fit the description of the offender, walking from behind Jiffy Lube, 18233 Halsted Street, and detained him, the report added.

A Jiffy Lube employee told the officer he saw Hall place a plastic bag behind the business’ garbage container before police arrived, the report stated. The officer recovered the bag, which contained the stolen merchandise, the report added.

The items recovered, totaling $79.03, were:

• a Master brand padlock (valued at $10.49)
• two Febreeze car air fresheners (valued at $7.98)
• a Wahl 14-piece pro trimmer kit (valued at $18.99)
• a Wahl pro trimmer kit (valued at $31.99)
• two Glade air fresheners (valued at 9.58)

Hall was taken in to custody, and during processing, police discovered Hall had a previous retail theft conviction from 2013, which led to the felony charge for this incident, the report stated.

NOV. 11

Retail Theft

Burnell Gatlin, 22, of the 14600 block of Princeton Avenue, Dolton, was charged with retail theft after a Nov. 11 incident at Target, 17605 Halsted Street, according to Homewood police reports.

A Target security agent noticed Gatlin, a store employee, conceal a pajama set and a bottle of Sutter House wine under his clothing and try to leave the business without paying for the items, the report stated. Gatlin was detained in the store’s security office until police arrived, the report added.

The estimated value of the items was $19.99, according to the report.

Police Blotter information is provided by local law enforcement agencies. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.