Man Uses Pry Bar To Steal $35K In Sunglasses: Northbrook PD Blotter

NORTHBROOK, IL — The following information comes from the Northbrook Police Department and court records as a record of incidents reported to police and those arrested on criminal charges, which represent accusations by the state that 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.

ARRESTS

NO VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE

Scott N. Jaffe, of Highland Park, is accused of having a suspended registration, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, no valid driver's license, and was arrested at 12:08 a.m. June 29, at Dundee Road and Western Avenue. A court date of Aug. 2 was assigned.

RECKLESS CONDUCT

Vaughntrell Long, of Chicago, is accused of reckless conduct, and was arrested at 1:09 a.m. July 2, at Kiest Avenue and Meadow Road. Police found two occupied vehicles running in a parking lot. Due to the recent burglaries in the area, the officer parked and attempted to make contact with the occupants. Both vehicles suddenly fled at a high rate of speed from the officer. One of the vehicles, a 2002 brown Chevrolet van, failed to use its turn signal while turning on to the side street and disobeyed the next stop sign. The officer drove around the block and found the vehicle abandoned with the doors open. One of the passengers, Long, was found and told the officers they fled because the unknown driver didn’t have a valid license. Due to their actions that posed a danger to the motorists and residents, according to police, Long was charged with reckless conduct. A court date of Aug. 27 was assigned.

SUSPENDED DRIVER'S LICENSE

Julio Martinez, of Prospect Heights, is accused of no valid registration, driving while license suspended, operation of an uninsured motor vehicle, and was arrested at 8:19 p.m. July 2, at Old Willow Road and Paddock Drive. A court date of July 17 was assigned.

LAST WEEK'S BLOTTER: Resident Scammed Buying Sports Tix Online — Northbrook Police Blotter

INCIDENTS

STOLEN VEHICLE

A resident in the 300 block of Park Drive reported at 3:07 a.m. June 28, that she had heard a noise outside of her house. When she looked out, she noticed her 2017 white Infiniti was being stolen and driven away. She contacted 911 immediately. She told the officer the vehicle was unlocked with the keys inside.

BURGLARY TO VEHICLES

Northbrook police reported on June 28 that after investigating a stolen auto, the officers discovered several burglaries to autos throughout the Village. The Northbrook Police Department investigated 15 burglaries in total. Most of the items that were taken were money, jewelry and identification cards.

IDENTITY THEFT

• An Oak Avenue resident called police at 3:07 p.m. June 28, to report someone had used their name and information to open an account with AT&T cell phone service. The person had also purchased a new iPhone that was billed to the fraudulent account.
• A Charles Drive resident reported at 3:48 p.m. June 29, someone had contacted her bank. The person, while posing as the complainant, said she needed a new debit card. The person asked for the card to be sent to a different address in Chicago. After the bank sent the new card, the complainant’s account was debited a total of $2,740. When the complainant saw the fraudulent transactions, she contacted her bank and advised them of the crime.
• A Lindenwood Lane resident reported at 2:40 p.m. July 1, she had received emails from two banking institutions indicating accounts had been set up in her name. After contacting the two banks, the complainant learned that someone had used her name, address and email to open accounts. The banks closed the accounts and the complainant contacted the credit bureaus to report the fraud.

RETAIL THEFT

• The loss prevention staff of a retail store in the 100 block of Skokie Boulevard reported at 6:47 p.m. June 28, someone had walked to the fragrance counter and took 15 perfumes. The person walked out the door with the items without paying. They got into a white Chevrolet and fled the area.
• The manager of a glasses store in the 1500 block of Lake Cook Road reported at 1:48 p.m. July 4, someone had entered the store inquiring about Cartier sunglasses. The manager showed the person a pair of sunglasses to see if he liked them. The customer gave them back and walked out of the store. The person returned a few minutes later and walked over to the locked drawer containing the Cartier sunglasses. While the staff wasn’t looking, he used a pry bar to force open the drawer and took $36,000 worth of sunglasses. The person fled from the store before the staff knew of the crime.

FLEEING AND ELUDING

Police saw a black sport utility driving at a high rate of speed at 10:38 p.m. June 29, at Dundee Road and Charlemagne Drive. The officer measured the vehicle’s speed at over 100 mph in a 40 mph zone. The officer activated his emergency lights, but the vehicle kept driving at that speed to elude the officer.

CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY

The police and fire departments responded to a garbage can fire at 10:23 p.m. June 30, near a park in the 900 block of Cedar Lane. Police were able to quickly extinguish the small fire. It appeared that several paper towels were put inside the garbage can and lit on fire.

PHONE SCAM

A Landwehr Road resident reported at 4:19 p.m. July 1, she had received a phone call by someone claiming to be a DEA agent. The person advised the complainant that a vehicle he owned was being investigated of drug trafficking and the complainant needed to pay money for bail. The complainant paid the person $69,000 over a few days with different electronic transactions using Bitcoins deposits and gift cards. The complainant finally called the Northbrook Police Department wanting to speak to the federal agent. He was told it was a scam.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY

A resident of the 1000 block of Waukegan Road reported at 9:34 a.m. July 3, they had been out of the country from the month of April until May. During that time period, someone had gained entry into her apartment and stole her social security card and various other IDs. No forced entry was found on the apartment door.

GRAFFITI

Police noticed graffiti spray-painted on the underside of a bridge at 7:06 p.m. July 3, in the 1600 block of Techny Road. The defacement consisted of various letters.