Niles Crime: Drivers Lack Both Sobriety And Insurance

NILES, IL — The following information comes from the Niles Police Department. It is a record of police activity, and an arrest is not an indication of guilt. Criminal charges are often dropped or reduced and all defendants are innocent until their guilt is established by a court.

RETAIL THEFT

On Feb. 15 shortly after 2:00 p.m. a security guard at a retail store on the 8200 block of Gold Road saw a man with a a red gym bag enter the store and walk towards the ladies active-wear department and take two ladies Nike brand sweatshirts from their display shelf and place them on top of his red gym bag. The guard watched the man walk past the final point of payment without paying for the items. When she attempted to confront the man, he ran and fled the area. Police found him a few blocks away and he was identified by the guard.

On Feb. 14 shortly after 4:00 p.m. police responded to a report of shoplifting where a man and a woman had fled the scene. When police arrived they said the pair had been walking around hiding items in their bags. They took approximately $63 worth of items and were later stopped by Chicago Police.

DUI

On Feb. 13 at 1:36 a.m. a 19-year-old man was speeding 85 mph in a zone with a speed limit of 35 mph southbound on Milwaukee at the 8600 block when NPD pulled him over. Police smelled booze on his breath and noticed he had bloodshot or glassy eyes. The driver, of the 4800 block of West Wrightwood in Chicago, failed sobriety tests and was booked for multiple counts, including felony DUI, speeding and driving without a license. He was also cited for no valid insurance.

DUI

On Feb. 13 shortly before midnight police on patrol saw a fast-moving car heading north on Greenwood. As an officer turned onto Ballard they observed the car swerve around a white pickup truck and drive on the wrong side of the road. The car kept speeding and driving erratically, turning right on Cumberland. Police pulled the driver over in the 8200 block of Elizabeth. There was a faint odor of alcohol coming from the driver's breath as well as bloodshot or glassy eyes, according to police. The man, 30, of the 9000 block of Grace in Niles, failed the field sobriety tests. He was charged with a DUI and cited for driving on the wrong side of the road and not having insurance.