Condo Thief Caught On Tape, Drive-By Egging, Fake Laptop Sale: Niles Crimes

NILES, IL — The following information comes from the Niles Police Department as a record of incidents reported to police and those arrested in recent weeks. Readers are reminded that an arrest is not an indication of guilt and criminal charges are often dropped or reduced. All persons named are innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

INCIDENTS

FRAUD

A man was approached and offered to sell an Apple laptop in its box around 7:15 p.m. on June 29 in a parking lot on the 8200 block of Golf Road. After he gave over $150 in cash, the seller gave him the box and ran. When he opened the box, he found three phone books instead of a laptop.

BURGLARY TO VEHICLE

Someone stole about $1,900 worth of tools from a vehicle parked in a lot in the 900 block of Civic Center Drive between 3:30 p.m. and 4:18 p.m. on June 30. The investigation continues.

BATTERY

A woman was hit in the hand and leg by eggs that had been thrown from a passing vehicle on the 7500 block of Jonquil Terrace shortly before 10:30 p.m. on June 25. Police said she did not report a license plate and there was some confusion about the color of the vehicle.

CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE

An employee of an auto dealership in the 5700 block of Touhy Avenue reported that six vehicles had been damaged. Windows had been shattered on two Nissan Altimas, and four SUVs had their hoods and windshields damaged by rocks sometime between June 23 and June 27. The cost to repair was not immediately estimated.

BATTERY

An employee and a patron of a business in the 7300 block of Milwaukee Avenue became involved physical altercation when the customer refused to pay for express services, which police said had been agreed to, around 2:24 p.m. on June 24. Punches were thrown after a pushing match, according to police. Neither party signed criminal complaints and the customer agreed to pay $80 for the service.

ARRESTS

DUI

Elizabeth W. Minelli, 39, of the 3400 block of North Ashland in Chicago, was arrested June 23 in the 9100 block of Milwaukee Avenue and charged with driving under the influence and speeding. Police said she was stopped for driving 67 mph in a 35 mph zone. Officers found her to be intoxicated and took her into custody. She was booked, processed and released ahead of a July 27 court date.

THEFT

Debra L. Comita, 53, of Naples, Florida, was arrested June 24 at 10:36 a.m. and charged with theft following an investigation. Police said she was seen on surveillance video taking packages that had been delivered to the mailroom of a condominium in the 8800 block of Golf Road on June 21. The condominium president identified Comita, a resident of the building, as the thief on June 24. Police said, when asked, she admitted to taking the packages, which were valued at more than $500.

DUI

Mandondado Francisco, 55, of the 4400 block of North Drake Avenue in Chicago, was arrested shortly before 8 a.m. on June 26 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Police said he was sitting in a vehicle in a parking lot in the 5600 block of Touhy Avenue. The vehicle, which police described as "suspicious" was found to be running with an open beer can in the center console. He was processed and released ahead of a July 27 court date.

DUI

Miralem Redzepi, 22, of the 600 block of Beau Court in Park Ridge, was arrested at 9:48 p.m. on June 30 and charged with driving under the influence and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Police said he was involved in a traffic crash in the 8400 block of Dempster Street. Police said they explained standard sobriety tests and Redzepi showed signs of impairment. He was booked, processed and released ahead of a July 24 court date.

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