Purse-Grabbing Group Strikes 2 Stores: Northbrook Crime Reports

NORTHBROOK, IL — The following information comes from the Northbrook Police Department as a record of incidents reported to the police and a list of those arrested. Criminal charges are often dropped or reduced and represent merely accusations by the state. An arrest does not mean a person is guilty, and all persons named are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

INCIDENTS

RETAIL THEFT

A group of women or girls shoplifted several purses from two stores in Village Square on Nov. 26 around 2:30 p.m. Staff at both the Nordstrom Rack and Saks Off Fifth each reported a group of women or girls snatched an undisclosed number of purses from a display and left without paying for them. They then got into a vehicle and left the area, police were told. Police did not disclose a description of the suspects or their vehicle.

THEFT FROM VEHICLE

A resident of the 1800 block of Ivy Lane reported that someone stole a catalytic converter from a vehicle parked during the overnight hours of Nov. 26-27.

FRAUD

A resident in the 3900 block of Dundee Road reported on Nov. 27 having provided funds to someone calling about a $10 million prize. The resident told police the prize winnings had still not been received after providing the caller with money.

RETAIL THEFT

A woman distracted the staff at Lord & Taylor in Northbrook Court while a man stole merchandise from the perfume counter, police were told Nov. 27 at 5:35 p.m.

IDENTITY THEFT

A resident in the 3000 block of Koepke Road reported on Nov. 29 at 7:11 p.m. that someone had tried to open up an unauthorized credit card account.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

Benjamin Thompson, 41, of the 8000 block of May Street, Chicago, was arrested Nov. 25 shortly before 7 p.m. near the intersection of Lake Cook Road and Pointe Drive and charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. Police arrived to the scene to investigate a traffic crash and determined that he was intoxicated. Thompson was also issued a citation for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Regina Mcclain, 60, of the 7700 block of South Rhodes Avenue, Chicago, was arrested Nov. 25 at 8:53 p.m. at the LuLu Lemon in the 1500 block of Lake Cook Road and charged with felony possession of a fake ID. Police were called to the location for a call about an "upset patron" who was trying to return items to the store. Officers were told the patron was trying to fraudulently return items with an illegible receipt. When they asked the woman for her identification, she showed them what police said was a fraudulent driver's license. Police also found two credit cards belonging to different people in her possession and prosecutors approved felony charges against her.

Hanunah I. Alsabur, 40, of the 2100 block of Riverview Drive in Madera, California, was arrested Nov. 30 at 1:22 p.m. Northbrook Court and charged with retail theft. Police said they got a call about a woman trying to buy various things from the store with fraudulent checks. When she was refused, she went to another store in the mall, Soma Intimates. Police said she again tried to buy things with a fraudulent check but this time, when the store clerk told declined her check she grabbed the merchandise and took off. Police said when she was stopped she was found with items stolen from several different stores in the mall, as well as fake IDs and fraudulent checks.

Last week: Arrests Over Fake Prescription, ID's: Northbrook Police Blotter, Nov. 17 - Nov. 24

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_{Top photo via Village of Northbrook}