Mushroom Arrest, 'Grandson Scam', Picnic Theft: 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. All persons named are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.

INCIDENTS

FRAUD

A resident of the 500 block of Romona Road reported someone gained access to their personal information and withdrew about $4,000 from their Chase Bank account on June 1.

IDENTITY THEFT

A resident of the 600 block of 8th Street reported that someone had used their spouse’s personal information in an attempt to purchase a car from a dealership in Gurnee around 8:30 p.m. on June 28.

RETAIL THEFT

Police responded to a report of a shoplifter taking about $50 worth of food after completing a transaction at the Walgreens pharmacy on the 800 block of Green Bay Road around 7:03 p.m. on June 28. Police did not immediately locate the thief but reviewed pharmacy records and video surveillance and produced a suspect and an arrest (see below).

THEFT BY DECEPTION

1630 Sheridan Rd. Between 10:00am on 6/28/17 and 10:00am on 6/29/17. An elderly resident of the 1600 block of Sheridan Road was contacted by an individual who purported to be his grandson between 10 a.m. on June 28 and 10 a.m. on June 29. The "grandson" told the resident that he had been arrested in Detroit. The "grandson" then connected the resident with his alleged “public defender” in the case. The resident was directed to send $4,000 in Best Buy and Target gift cards for bail and provided Target gift card numbers for two $2,000 cards to the caller. On June 29, the "public defender" called the victim again and stated that another $2,000 more was needed, at which point the resident realized he had fallen victim to a scam.

THEFT

Sometime between 3:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on June 29, someone opened a UPS delivery box that had been left in the lobby of a building in the 500 block of 5th Street, stole the tent poles inside and left the box behind.

BIKE THEFT

An unlocked bike was stolen outside the Jewel-Osco in the 1700 block of Sheridan Road at 9:18 p.m. on June 29. The bike, which was recovered a short time later on the 1400 block of Sheridan Road, had been taken while its owner, a 14-year-old Kenilworth resident, was inside the store.

CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY

A resident of the 800 block of Lacrosse Avenue reported shortly before 11 p.m. on June 30 that the back window to their home had been broken. Responding officers checked the premises but found no signs of any forced entry. Police determined the damage could have been cause by landscaping that had been taking place in the yard.

THEFT

Someone stole outdoor furniture cushions from a plastic bin outside a home on the 800 block of 15th street between 5:30 p.m. on June 30 and 12:09 p.m. on July 1.

AUTO BURGLARY

A patron of Gillson park reported leaving their picnic basket unattended inside a convertible with the top down between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on June 30. When they returned to the vehicle, the basket had been taken.

RETAIL THEFT

Employees at the Carson Pirie Scott on the 3200 block of Lake Avenue reported a retail theft in progress at 4:50 p.m. on July 2. The shoplifters fled in a vehicle with Wisconsin plates (pictured) before police arrived.

ARRESTS

POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

Tina Marie Moseley, 51, of the 900 block of South Rover Road in Des Plaines, was arrested at 5:25 p.m. on June 29. Police said a vehicle was stopped for a traffic offense around Willow Road and I-94. The driver was found to be driving on a suspended license. After taking her into custody, police said they found a bag of psilocybin mushrooms in the vehicle and charged Moseley with a felony drug charge.

POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

Graham Livermore, 29, of the 4200 block of North Spaulding Avenue in Chicago, was arrested at 1:45 a.m. on June 30. Police said a vehicle was stopped for a traffic offense in the 700 block of Sheridan Road. When police made contact with the driver they said they detected an odor of cannabis. Police conducted a search of the vehicle and said they found 18 schedule 2 pills and 3 schedule 4 pills. The driver, Livermore, was arrested and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance while the passenger was released without charges. Police did not mention finding any cannabis in the vehicle.

RETAIL THEFT

The loss prevention officer at Carson Pirie Scott caught a 64-year-old Des Plaines woman stealing $141 worth of merchandise from the store on the 3200 block of Lake Avenue shortly after 7 p.m. on June 30. She was issued a local ordinance shoplifting citation and released.

RETAIL THEFT

A 23-year-old Glenview man turned himself in to detectives on July 1 and was issued a local ordinance citation for theft after he was identified by police as the person who stole food items after completing a pharmacy transaction at the Walgreens on the 800 block of Green Bay Road on the evening of June 28. Police reviewed pharmacy records and video surveillance to produce a suspect.

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