IRS Scam Gets New Lenox Resident: Crime Blotter

NEW LENOX, IL - Here's your look at the latest criminal activity around the village of New Lenox. The following incidents occurred during the past week.

MARCH 29

501 E. Lincoln Highway. At 4 p.m, an officer was dispatched to Walmart for a retail theft complaint. Someone stole approximately $1,200 worth of electronics from the store.

At 6:41 p.m., an officer was sent to a call in the 100 block of Wildwood Drive for a fraud complaint. "The complainant advised they received a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS. The caller advised the complainant that they owed several thousand dollars in back taxes. The complainant made a payment to the caller before realizing the caller was not from the IRS and was in fact a scam."

MARCH 30

At 3:28 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Wellington Parkway in reference to a burglary to Motor Vehicle complaint. "The complainant advised someone entered their unlocked vehicle without permission while it was parked on the street. It was unknown if anything was taken at the time of report."

In an unrelated case, New Lenox Police received a report of a stolen motor vehicle in the 700 block of Bishops Gate. "The complainant advised someone stole their car while it was parked on the street overnight. The complainant believed the car was unlocked and that the FOB to start the vehicle was in the car. The vehicle was later recovered in Robbins, Illinois."

At 12:23 p.m., an officer was sent to the 600 block of Bishops Gate in reference to a car burglary complaint. "The complainant advised someone entered their unlocked vehicle, while it was parked in their driveway overnight, and stole belongings."

MARCH 31

Officers responded to a retail theft at 12:17 p.m., at the Walmart, 501 E. Lincoln Highway. "The officer was dispatched to Walmart in reference to a Retail Theft complaint. The complainant advised that Erian Watt stole $54 worth of clothing and toiletries from the store." Watt, 21, lives in the 600 block of South Vertin Avenue in Shorewood. She posted bond and was released from police custody.

APRIL 1

At 3:17 a.m., Dirk Schmidt, 51, of the 17900 block of Settlers Pond Way, Orland Park, was arrested on charges of drunken driving. This occurred at Cedar Road and Illinois Highway. "The officer was dispatched to an intoxicated driver call. The officer located the offending vehicle and observed the driver make a traffic violation. The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver, Schmidt. The
officer learned that the driver, Schmidt, was under the influence of alcohol. Schmidt failed to post bond and was transferred to the Will County Adult Detention Facility."

Dirk Schmidt

APRIL 2

Reported at 6:28 a.m. in the 2400 block of West Haven Avenue. "The officer was dispatched to the Northern Builders construction site on Haven Avenue in reference to a theft complaint. The complainant advised that someone entered upon the construction site and stole construction tools worth $6,000."

Image via New Lenox Police Department