Fake Water Man, Counterfeit Money, Skokie Woman Flees: Wilmette Crimes

WILMETTE, IL — The following information comes from the Wilmette Police Department as a record of incidents reported to the police and those recently arrested. Readers are reminded that an arrest is not an indication of guilt and criminal charges are often dropped or reduced. Everyone is innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.

INCIDENTS

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY

A fake water inspector burglarized the home of a Wilmette resident on Aug. 10, according to police. A resident in the 900 block of Manor Drive reporting returning home from a walk when a man walked out of a van that had just pulled into her driveway and said he worked for something called "Wilmette Water Works."

The man said that a water main had ruptured due to construction in the area and told the resident that he needed to "check her water for contamination," according to police. They walked through the interior and exterior of the house while the resident turned on various faucets, and the man eventually left.

After he was gone, the resident noticed that $500 in cash, $2,000 in travelers' checks and a credit card were missing from a filing cabinet on the second floor. The resident also told police some of the items in the bedroom appeared to be out of place.

The suspected burglar was described as 30-40 years old, about 5-foot, 7-inches tall with a dark complexion and an average build.

THEFT

A resident of the 2300 block of Iroquis Road reported that someone stole an unlocked bicycle that belonged to the resident's child from the driveway sometime between 1 p.m. and 1:37 p.m. on Aug. 7.

IDENTITY THEFT

Someone used the identity of a Wilmette resident to write a $6,000 check with Bank of America on July 25. It was reported last week.

LOST PROPERTY

A resident in the 100 block of Girard reported losing a wallet between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Aug. 9 while playing with children on the golf course.

THEFT

At 6:15 a.m. on Aug. 13, an officer on routine patrol noticed the street name signs were missing from a pole at the southeast corner of the intersection of Kenilworth Avenue and Dartmouth Lane.

BICYCLE THEFT

Someone stole a locked gray men's Trek mountain bike valued at $200 from the CTA station in the 300 block of Linden between Aug. 11 and Aug. 13.

ARRESTS

COUNTERFEIT MONEY

Two people were face felony charges after police were called to the Carson Pirie Scott around 5:18 p.m. on Aug. 7 for a report that people had been trying to pay for merchandise with counterfeit cash. A third person was detained but released without charge.

Toya West, 30, of the 11600 block of South Lowe Avenue of Chicago was charged with one count of forgery and one count of misdemeanor retail theft for allegedly concealing a bottle of perfume.

Lamont Hall, 26, of the 6600 block of South May Street was charged with felony forgery.

RETAIL THEFT

Delano Starks, 45, of the 300 block of North Lotus Street was arrested Aug. 8 at 2 p.m. and charged with felony retail theft. Police said an officer on routine patrol noticed an unattended backpack and an unlocked bicycle outside the Bed Bath & Beyond in the 3200 block of Lake Avenue. The officer saw what looked to be stolen property, in the form of four bottles of liquor, and burglary tools, in the form of bolt cutters. The officer also was able to find a man, identified as Starks, who claimed ownership of the unattended items. Police said Starks was seen on video surveillance stealing the bottles of liquor from Walgreens.

AGGRAVATED FLEEING AND ELUDING

Elana Garay, 22, of the 7700 block of Lowell Avenue in Skokie, was arrested Aug. 10 after police attempted to stop a motor vehicle near the intersection of Lake and West Park avenues for speeding. Police said the driver fled but was later identified as Garay. After police contacted her, she turned herself in at the police station. She faces charges for various traffic offenses and aggravated fleeing and eluding, an offense aggravated by disobeying two or more traffic control devices, police said.

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