Car Theft Crime Alert, Claritin Snatched By Tattooed Pair: Wilmette Crime

WILMETTE, IL — The following information comes from the Wilmette Police Department as a record of police activity. Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt and criminal charges can be dropped or reduced. All defendants are innocent until proven guilty in court. Charges represent merely accusations by the state.

FRAUD

A victim on the 200 block of Vista drive reported that someone had fraudulently gained access to her Visa debit card and charged $68 worth of merchandise between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on May 11.

IDENTITY THEFT

A victim on the 800 block of Central Avenue reported falling victim to an identity theft on May 12 at 2:17 p.m.

SUSPENDED LICENSE

Dawn C. Simerly, 26, of the 1200 block of South River Road in Prospect Heights, was stopped for no valid registration and found to have a suspended driver’s license and no insurance in the block of 800 Skokie Boulevard on May 12 at 2:43 p.m.

RETAIL THEFT

Police responded to the Walgreens on the 800 block of Green Bay Road at 5:07 p.m. on May 12 for a report of a retail theft. Two heavily tattooed people had reportedly just stolen seven cartons of Claratin from the store. Police were unable to immediately locate the thieves, who were described as a six foot tall white man in his 20's with facial hair and a white woman in her 20's with blonde hair.

DOMESTIC BATTERY

A 22 –year-old Wilmette woman was arrested for domestic battery on May 11 at 7:13 p.m. on the 700 block of Ridge Road.

DUI, CHILD ENDANGERMENT

Jennifer Costello, 47, of the 300 block of Skokie Court, was arrested 8:30 a.m. on May 10. Police said they witnessed her in control of a car near her home address after receiving a driver complaint near the 500 block of Skokie Boulevard. Police said she had left a 5-year-old child at home alone and also charged her with child endangerment.

DUI

Justus Smith, 21, of the 1200 block of Pitner in Evanston, was arrested and charged with DUI for a combination of alcohol and drugs after a head on collision, which resulted in both drivers suffering injuries that required hospitalization, May 9 in the 2500 block of Glenview Road shortly after 10 a.m.

TRAFFIC ARREST

Leslie Allison, 60, of the 5200 block of North Christiana in Chicago, was arrested May 9 shortly before 9 a.m. Police investigating a crash learned one of the drivers did not possess a valid license. She was taken into custody, transported to the Station, processed and released on bond.

IDENTITY THEFT

A caller reported someone had used her personal information to purchase electronic games some time between May 3 and May 6. The card was cancelled and a new card was issued.

CRIME ALERT:

On May 8, around 4 a.m., the Wilmette Police Department responded to a reported auto burglary in the 1000 block of Manor Drive. A resident observed a total of four individuals exit two vehicles and start walking up and down driveways on the block. When confronted, the suspects fled on foot, leaving the area in one of the two cars. A car abandoned by the offenders was determined to have been stolen earlier in the night from another community.

The offenders were described as African American males in their late teens and early twenties. Wilmette police reminded residents to lock their cars and remove their car keys, noting the pattern whereby thieves target unlocked vehicles. Unlocked cars containing keys have been stolen and garages have entered when the door opener has been kept in an unlocked vehicle, according to police.

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