Fake Chinese Police Threaten 'Extradition,' Demand Money: Blotter

NORTHBROOK, IL — The following information comes from the Northbrook Police Department as a record of incidents reported to the police and those arrested on criminal charges, which represent accusations by the state and are often dropped or reduced. Updated information may be available from the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Everyone arrested is presumed to be innocent unless found guilty in court beyond a reasonable doubt.

INCIDENTS

THEFTS

• A resident in the 2000 block of Woodlawn Road reported around 8 a.m. Sept. 29 that several signs were missing from the area.
• A shopper at the Northbrook Court Neiman Marcus store reported around 4:30 p.m. Sept. 22 that someone had stolen their wallet. The shopper learned of the left after receiving fraud alerts from their credit card company.
• Someone stole a purse from a cart at an unspecified location in the 1100 block of Church Street at some point prior to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 30. The purse was later found missing $20.

CAR BURGLARIES

• A resident in the 1500 block of Hemlock Knoll Terrace reported around 8:30 pm. Sept. 22 that someone rummaged through their unlocked car and stole several personal items.
• A resident in the 2500 block of Gayle Street reported around 1:45 p.m. Sept. 30 that someone got into their garage and stole a purse from an unlocked car parked inside. The purse was later found missing $15.
• Someone rummaged through a car parked in the 3400 block of Lake Knoll Drive at some point prior to 6:46 p.m. Sept. 30. Nothing was reported stolen and police did not specify if the car was locked.
• A resident in the 2300 block of Auburn Lane reported shortly before 7 p.m. that someone had rummaged through their car. Nothing was reported stolen and police did not specify if the car was locked.

ARMED ROBBERY
An armed robbery was reported on Sept. 23 in the 1300 block of Shermer Road. Read more...

VANDALISM
A resident in the 1000 block of Pfingsten Road reported around 5 p.m. Sept. 23 that someone was captured on video "throwing mud on a door."

SHOPLIFTING

• Staff at the Dick's Sporting Goods, 275 Skokie Blvd., reported around 8:30 p.m. Sept. 23 that two women or girls stole what were believed to be several Nike jackets.
• Staff at the Northbrook Court Neiman Marcus reported around 4:40 p.m. Oct. 1 that a man or boy stole four boxes of headphones.

CRIMINAL DAMAGE
A resident in the 800 block of Timber's Edge Lane reported that someone broke a window on their vehicle between 9:30 p.m. Sept. 24 and 7:30 a.m. Sept. 25.

SCAMS

• A Peachtree Lane resident reported around 12:30 a.m. Sept. 25 that someone claiming to be calling from the Social Security Administration left them a voicemail. The resident returned the call and was told to buy gift cards to make a payment. The resident purchased an unspecified amount of gift cards and provided them to the scam caller.
• An Apple Tree Lane resident reported on Sept. 23 that a caller purporting to represent a Chinese police department claiming that the resident's information had been used in a scam. The caller threatened extradition if they were not provided with an international bank transfer. The resident sent the scammer an unspecified amount of money.
• A Blackthorn Lane resident reported around 7 p.m. Sept. 28 that an email that appeared to come from a supervisor asked the resident to buy $3,400 worth of gift cards for staff. The resident bought the cards and gave numbers to the email scammer before realizing it had not actually come from their boss.

ILLEGAL DUMPING
Someone left a couch in a construction Dumpster in the 700 block of Skokie Boulevard between 2 p.m. Sept. 26 and 8:33 a.m. Sept. 30.

SUSPICIOUS CALLS

• An Illinois Road resident reported on Sept. 30 that someone left them a phone message claiming their identity was associated with a stolen car in Texas that contained drugs. The resident did not respond and contacted police.
• A Donovan Glen Court resident reported on Sept. 30 that they got a call from a purported police officer who claimed the resident's grandson had been arrested for a drug-related offense. The caller demanded $9,000 to pay for bail, but the resident recognized it was a scam, gave no information and contacted police.

IDENTITY THEFT
A Founders Drive resident reported on Sept. 30 that someone had used their identity to open up an unauthorized cellular account.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

• A resident in the 1300 block of Waukegan Road reported around 7 p.m. Oct. 1 that someone damaged the front screen door of their home.
• Someone broke into a home in the 3100 block of Donovan Glen Court at some point prior to 2:06 p.m. Oct. 2. The front door was broken and various pieces of property were reported stolen for an unspecified loss.

ARRESTS

Darren L. Collins, 35, of the 1400 block of North Lavergne Avenue, Chicago, was arrested around 1:45 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Northbrook Court Neiman Marcus and charged with identity theft, possession of fraudulent identification and possession of a revoked firearm owners identification card after police got a report that he had opened a credit account and made a $600 purchase using someone else's identity.

Sandra Lee Bahrmasel, 71, of the 1000 block of Cherry Tree Lane, Glencoe, was arrested around 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19 in the area of Skokie Boulevard and Dundee Road and charged with driving under the influence after police got a call about an erratic driver. She was also issued citations for improper lane usage and an uninsured motor vehicle.

Jairus J. Carpenter, 22, of the 700 block of South McAree Road, Waukegan, was charged with felony theft on Sept. 24 in connection with an incident in the 3100 block of Dundee Road reported Oct. 16, 2018.

Amy Regina Messina-Schultheis, 22, of the 900 block of Whitehall Drive, Buffalo Grove, was arrested around 2:30 a.m. Sept. 28 in the area of Keystone and Milton avenues and charged with driving under the influence after an officer on patrol witnessed her commit a traffic violation and determined she was impaired. Messina-Schultheis was also issued citations for driving without insurance and speeding.

Earlier: Deerfield Woman Faces Elder Exploitation Charge; Barking Dog Alerts To Burglar Upstairs; Smash-And-Grab At Jewelry Store; Investigation Leads To Identity Theft Arrest: Northbrook Police Blotter, Aug. 25 to Sept. 21

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