Woman Left 4-year-old Daughter Home Alone: Cops

SATURDAY, AUG. 15

Retail Theft

Michael Barton, 21, 1000 block of Union Avenue, Chicago Heights, was charged with retail theft after being accused of stealing two bottles of liquor Aug. 15 from Jewel, according to Homewood police reports.

Barton reportedly concealed a bottle of Absolut vodka and a bottle of Jose Cuervo on his person and then left the store, 3153 W. 183rd St., the report stated. The bottles were estimated to cost $47.64.

THURSDAY, AUG. 13

Neglect of a Child

Loushera Thompson, 29, of the 18500 block of Harwood Avenue, was charged with contributing to the neglect of a child after leaving her 4-year-old daughter home alone the morning of Aug. 13, while she registered her boyfriend’s daughter at high school, according to Homewood police reports.

At about 9:15 a.m., a neighbor heard a young girl crying out of an open first-floor apartment window, the report stated. After about a half hour of listening to the girl cry, the neighbor walked over to the apartment and asked the girl if she was OK and if she was alone, the report added. The girl told the neighbor that she was alone and that she wasn’t OK, according to the report.

The neighbor then called police, who arrived on the scene, the report stated. Officers asked the girl to let them in, and she did, the report added.

Thompson and her boyfriend returned home at about 10:40 a.m., the report stated. She told police she had not been gone that long.

The report does not indicate if the child was injured, nor does it say how long she had been alone in the apartment.

Bike Stolen from Metra Station

A bicycle and bike lock was reported stolen from a rack at the Park Avenue Amtrak-Metra station, according to Homewood police reports.

The owner locked the bike, estimated at $720, to the rack at about 8:10 a.m. Aug. 13, the report stated. That included removing the bike’s seat, as well, the report added.

When the owner returned at 6:55 p.m., the bike and lock were gone, the report stated.

SUNDAY, AUG. 9

Theft, Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Trespass to Residence

Phillip Knox, 51, was arrested and charged with theft, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass to residence after police found him at about 3:30 p.m. Aug. 9, taking water from a spigot outside a home in the 1100 block of 183rd St., according to Homewood police reports.

Knox, who does not have a permanent address, also had outstanding warrants for reckless driving and driving without a license, the report stated.

Propane Torch Stolen

Robert Thompson, 53, of Chicago Heights, was arrested and charged with retail theft after being accused of shoplifting a propane torch Aug. 9 from Menards, according to Homewood police reports.

The loss prevention agent for the store, 17545 S. Halsted St., told police he saw Thompson via closed-circuit monitoring conceal a $16.99 propane torch in his shirt, the report stated. Thompson then left the store without paying for the item, the report added.

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.