Woman Invests $80K In Online Bitcoin Scam: 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

RETAIL THEFT

William D. Peyton, of Rockford, had a warrant out of Northbrook for retail theft, and was arrested at 12:40 a.m. Dec. 22, by the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin. According to police, on July 19, Peyton, walked into a retail store, grabbed three women’s handbags, and walked out of the store without paying. An officer attempted to stop Peyton after he got into his vehicle, but he fled from the officer at a high rate of speed and left the area. An arrest warrant was obtained against Peyton for retail theft. A future court date had not been set at the time of the report.

IDENTITY THEFT

Drevon M. Hill, of Gurnee, is accused of unlawful possession of a fraudulent identification card, financial identity theft, obstructing a peace officer, and was arrested at 11:53 a.m. Dec. 22, in the 1300 block of Shermer Road. A credit union contacted the Northbrook Police Department because a subject was providing them a false identification card to fraudulently remove money from someone’s account. The staff said the subject had committed similar crimes at other locations. When officers arrived, Hill briefly talked with them, but fled on foot for several blocks. The officers eventually caught Hill and took him into custody. A court date of Dec. 26 was assigned.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Natalie Art, of Des Plaines, is accused of driving under the influence, unlawful use of an electronic device while driving, improper lane usage, and was arrested at 10:04 p.m. Dec. 22, at Willow Road and Westleigh Drive. Officers responded to an auto crash where a 2014 silver Lexus had struck a light pole. Once they arrived, they met with the driver, Art, who said she had minor injuries. Art told police she was attempting to use her phone while driving and lost control. The officers suspected Art was under the influence of alcohol. She was taken to a local hospital, where she reportedly failed a limited sobriety test. A court date of Feb. 15, 2024, was assigned.

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INCIDENTS

RETAIL THEFT

• The loss prevention of a retail store in the 1500 block of Lake Cook Road reported at 6:51 p.m. Dec. 22, someone had entered the store and requested to see a pair of shoes in his size. After the employee provided the shoes to the subject, he ran out of the store without paying. The subject got into a red Dodge Charger and fled the area at a high rate of speed.
• The staff at a retail store in the 1000 block of Waukegan Road called police at 2:58 p.m. Dec. 24, to report someone entered their store and started loading up products into a reusable bag. The manager approached the subject to see what she was doing. The subject yelled “Move” and fled the store without paying for any of the products.

CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY

• Police responded to a burglar alarm at 1:06 a.m. Dec. 24, at a vacant office building in the 1300 block of Techny Road. While checking the exterior, they found a broken window. No one had made entry to the building.
• The maintenance staff at a business in the 1600 block of Shermer Road called police at 11:29 a.m. Dec. 26, to report someone had damaged a rear door to a building under construction. After walking inside, they noticed graffiti was painted throughout the empty building.

IDENTITY THEFT

A Farnsworth Lane resident reported at 9:40 a.m. Dec. 25, he received a phone call from an unknown subject saying he owed PayPal money. If the complainant didn’t follow the instructions, the subject was going to have him arrested. The complainant followed the instructions and withdrew over $16,000. The money was changed over to Bitcoin and other electronic avenues for the subject. The complainant also noticed that his electronic trade account was hacked and $51,000 was missing.

FRAUD

A Skokie Boulevard resident called police at 4:13 p.m. Dec. 25, to report she met someone online that convinced her to invest in Bitcoin. The subject convinced the complainant to send $80,000 through online transactions, gift cards and to also send her a high-end watch through a shipping company. The complainant never saw any return and realized it was a scam.

BURGLARY

A resident in the 700 block of Skokie Boulevard reported at 11:25 a.m. Dec. 27, someone entered his unlocked 2022 white Volkswagen and stole $900 worth of gift cards while it was parked in the parking garage of his apartment building. While the officer was speaking with the complainant, he indicated that someone also entered his apartment when he was gone sometime at the end of November or the beginning of December. The subject took some credit cards and a cell phone. The complainant didn’t know of the crime until he noticed the unauthorized transactions on the credit cards that totaled over $1,100.

THEFT

A staff member of a store in the 1900 block of Cherry Lane reported at 4:12 p.m. Dec. 27, someone stole her wallet out of her purse. She then said she had left her purse in her unlocked office, which is near the public bathroom of the store. Her wallet contained credit cards, a driver’s license, and cash. She realized the crime took place when her bank texted her that someone tried to do an unauthorized transaction at another store.