Scammers Bilk Homeowner Of $30K For Repairs: Northbrook Police 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

DOMESTIC BATTERY

William D. Bailey, of Northbrook, had a warrant out of Lake County for aggravated domestic battery, and was arrested at 6:08 p.m. July 14, in the 200 block of Skokie Boulevard. He was taken to the Lake County Jail.

BATTERY

Craig T. Neal, of Northbrook, is accused of battery, and was arrested at 4:55 p.m. July 15, in the 2800 block of Shannon Court. A complainant told police Neal had come over to his residence and was upset over an old matter. Neal reportedly approached the complainant, pushed him to the ground, and held him down until witnesses were able to pull Neal away. Neal left the area before officers arrived. The complainant suffered minor injuries. Officers met with Neal at the police department, where he turned himself in. A court date of Aug. 23 was assigned.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Dania Sosa, of Aurora, is accused of driving under the influence, and was arrested at 2:37 a.m. July 17, at Dundee and Sanders roads. The police department received a call regarding a possible drunk driver that was driving a 2022 Ford truck. The officer spotted the vehicle not using its turn signal while pulling into a gas station. The officer stopped the vehicle and spoke to the driver, Sosa. A court date of Aug. 15 was assigned.

IDENTITY THEFT

Michael D. Howen, of Chicago, is accused of identity theft, unlawful possession of a fraudulent ID, and was arrested at 2:20 p.m. July 17, in the 800 block of Sanders Road. According to police, the staff at a bank noticed Howen come in and falsely represent himself as a customer that the staff knew wasn’t him. Since the staff knew that wasn’t the true name of the defendant, they contacted the police. Howen was attempting to withdrawal money out of the victim’s account utilizing a fake ID. A court date of Aug. 7 was assigned.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY

Tommy S. Gonzalez-Cavieres, of McFarland, California, is accused of residential burglary, and was arrested at 6:09 a.m. July 18, in the 1100 block of Chewton Glen. Police had been investigating an April 21 residential burglary. A court date had not been set at the time of the report.

LAST WEEK'S BLOTTER: Pop-Up Sprinkler Heads Broken In Yard

INCIDENTS

BURGLARY TO VEHICLE

A complainant called police at 1:37 a.m. July 15, to report someone smashed the front passenger's window of his 2018 Subaru Forester while it was parked in the 2700 block of Salceda Drive. The subject stole a backpack containing an iPad and other miscellaneous items.

STOLEN VEHICLE

• A complainant reported at 7:31 p.m. July 15, that they had parked their 2023 Range Rover in front of a restaurant in the 200 block of Skokie Boulevard, but left his keys inside the unlocked vehicle. When he was finished with his meal, he noticed someone stole his vehicle. The officers worked with the installed location GPS to find the stolen vehicle. The vehicle was located in Doltan. The officers found another stolen vehicle from Mundelein at the address where the complainant’s vehicle was parked. Both vehicles were recovered and the 2023 Range Rover was taken back to Northbrook.
• After several officers reported to the 800 block of Sanders Road for someone seen opening a victim's car door at 4 p.m. July 18 (see incident below at same address), other officers saw the same blue Land Rover in the 3300 block of Dundee Road. That vehicle was next to a 2020 white Chevrolet Corvette that was quickly backing out of its parking space. Officers attempted to stop the vehicles, but both vehicles fled the area at high rates of speed. The officers contacted the owner of the Corvette, who said his vehicle was stolen because he left the keys inside of it. The Corvette was later found abandoned in Chicago.

FLEEING AND ELUDING

Police saw a 2017 Hyundai Elantra traveling at a high rate of speed at 2:30 a.m. July 17, at Dundee Road and Skokie Boulevard. The officer clocked the vehicle’s speed at 63 mph in a 35 mph zone. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle accelerated to over 115 mph and fled. The Skokie Police Department observed the same vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Their officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle fled from them as well.

RETAIL THEFT

• The loss prevention staff at a store in the 1400 block of Lake Cook Road reported at 2:43 p.m. July 17, someone was seen taking three bottles of perfume and concealing them inside his clothes. The subject left the store without paying.
• Police responded to the area of 100 block of Skokie Boulevard at 3:05 p.m. July 19, where a vehicle was seen that had been involved in previous retail thefts. Once in the area, the officer saw a subject running toward that vehicle with several handbags. After the subject got into the vehicle, he fled at a high rate of speed. The officer found out later a retail theft had occurred at a clothing store and that subject stole several handbags from them.

CRIMINAL TRESPASS TO VEHICLE

The staff of a restaurant in the 800 block of Sanders Road reported at 3:31 p.m. July 18, someone was seen opening the passenger door of an employee's 2007 black Cadillac without permission. The employee yelled at the subject, who ran to a waiting blue Land Rover, which fled at a high rate of speed.

THEFT

A resident in the 1800 block of Lincoln Avenue reported at 4:33 p.m. July 19, someone showed up to his residence, advising him he was from a home repair service. The subject pointed out several areas of the exterior of the house that needed repair. The homeowner agreed to the original estimate of $6,500. When no one showed up to his residence on the day of the agreed work, the homeowner contacted the phone number that the subject provided. Several days later, two different subjects showed up to the house claiming they were hired to do the work. They advised the homeowner they needed an additional $24,000. The homeowner gave them a cashier’s check. The next day the subject’s arrived but asked for an additional $18,000 to rent the equipment. The homeowner checked with the rental company and it was determined everything was a scam. The homeowner tried getting the original money back, but the bank said the check had been cashed.