Northbrook Resident Scammed Out Of $100K In Gift Cards: Police

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 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

Scams, Fraud And Identity Theft

• A resident in the 2800 block of Aspen Road reported June 6 that they received a phone call from someone who convinced them to buy gift cards to help “clear” their name. The resident provided the caller with $100,000 worth of gift cards before being alerted by their bank that it was a scam.
• A resident in the 3600 block of Pebble Beach Road reported June 8 that they received a phone call from someone posing as a bank representative. The caller said there had been fraud on the resident’s account and that money needed to be moved to resolve the issue, police said. On seven occasions, the resident moved $41,195.37 to different accounts belonging to people they did not know before realizing it was a scam.
• A resident in the 2600 block of Walters Avenue reported June 8 that someone was attempting to purchase gift cards fraudulently using their Target account.
• A resident in the 2000 block of Big Oak Lane reported June 9 that someone used their personal information to open a credit card account with a balance of $4,828.
• A resident in the 2600 block of Quail Lane reported June 10 that someone used their credit card number to illegally buy a laptop at a store in New York.

Theft And Criminal Mischief

• A resident in the 2500 block of Joshua Lane reported June 5 that their 2025 Lexus had been egged while parked outside overnight.
• A person in the 2300 block of Shermer Road reported June 6 that $1,804 was stolen from a locker at work.
• Loss prevention staff at a store in the 100 block of Skokie Boulevard reported June 8 that two people stole six clothing items valued at $239.60.
• A resident in the 3700 block of Pebble Beach Road reported June 9 that someone stole a pro-abortion sticker from the bumper of their vehicle. The loss was valued at $6.50.

Fake Prescriptions

• Staff at a pharmacy in the 900 block of Willow Road reported June 9 that a man gave them two fake prescriptions for Oxycodone and Sulfamethoxazole. When an officer arrived, the man fled in his vehicle at a high speed, disobeyed a red light and drove over a raised median to elude the officer, according to police.

Trespassing

• Officers responded June 11 to a workout facility in the 900 block of Willow Road after a burglar alarm activated. The owner told dispatch she was watching surveillance cameras from home and could see a man walking around inside. Officers checked the building, but the person had left before they arrived.

Death Investigation

• Northbrook police and fire personnel responded June 5 to a residence in the 1800 block of Big Oak Circle after a patient stopped breathing. Emergency workers met with a hospice nurse and the patient, who had a valid do-not-resuscitate order on file. The person died of natural causes, according to police.

Arrests

DUI

• Katrin L. Parenti, of Highwood, was arrested June 8 near Sunset Ridge Road and Voltz Road and charged with speeding, improper lane usage, DUI and DUI with a blood-alcohol concentration over 0.08, according to police. Her blood-alcohol concentration was listed by police as .270. She is scheduled to appear in court June 24.

Traffic Arrests And Citations

• Keith R. Lobodzinski, of Northbrook, was stopped June 5 near Dundee Road and Waukegan Road and charged with suspended registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. His court date is July 2.
• Jose A. Guerrero-Alcocer, of North Chicago, was stopped June 5 near Dundee Road and Waukegan Road and charged with improper lane usage and no valid driver’s license. His court date is July 20.
• Jessica R. Vazquez, of Chicago, was stopped June 8 near Dundee Road and Laurel Road and charged with driving while registration was suspended. Her court date is June 29.
• Ruth Ramirez, of Chicago, was stopped June 9 near Sunset Ridge Road and Martin Lane and charged with suspended registration, driving while license suspended and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Her court date is July 13.
• Noe Vasquez-Rodriguez, of Highland Park, was stopped June 11 in the 600 block of Skokie Boulevard and charged with driving while license suspended. His court date is July 2.

LAST WEEK'S BLOTTER: $6.3K Gift Card Scam, Vehicle Burglaries