'Rabbi' Gets Victim To Buy $17K In Gift Cards: Northbrook PD Blotter

Editor's Note: One or more names in this report have been redacted in light of additional documentation provided regarding this case.

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.

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LAST WEEK'S BLOTTER: Driver Struck With Weapon After Traffic Fight — Northbrook PD Blotter

INCIDENTS

FLEEING AND ELUDING

Police saw three Audi sedans at 12:28 a.m. Jan. 5, without their lights on and traveling at a high rate of speed at Dundee and Pfingsten roads. The officer attempted to stop them using the light and sirens, but none of the vehicles yielded. The vehicles increased their speed and fled on the tollway.

COMPUTER FRAUD

• A Techny Road resident reported at 8:21 p.m. Jan. 6, receiving a phone call from someone posing as an Apple representative. The subject convinced the complainant that her computer was infected and that she needed to access her computer remotely to fix it. The complainant allowed it and the subject was able to access sensitive bank information. The complainant also provided routing numbers and checking information that allowed the subject to steal almost $600 from her account.
• A Moon Hill Drive resident called police at 11:09 a.m. Jan. 11, to report they received an email from who they thought was their rabbi. The email requested them to purchase gift cards and send them back to that email. Over a period of a week, the complainant purchased $17,000 of gift cards and sent them to the "rabbi." The victim later found that the rabbi’s email was hacked and someone was posing as the rabbi.

THEFT

A resident in the 1000 block of Shermer Road called police at 3:29 p.m. Jan. 8, to report they had ordered a silver bar from an online company to be delivered to their apartment in the amount of $2,400. Per his instructions, he was supposed to provide his signature upon delivery. The complainant left the country for a period of time and requested his neighbor to receive the package. The package was delivered, but the neighbor never received it. It was later determined that someone took the package from the lobby, where it was left.