Church Christmas Decorations Damaged, Extension Cord Cut: Blotter

WINNETKA, IL — The following information comes from the Winnetka Police Department as a record of police activity and incidents reported to the police. Anyone arrested is innocent unless proven guilty. Criminal charges represent merely accusations by the state and are often dropped or reduced.

WINNETKA

INCIDENTS

CAR BURGLARY
Someone went into an unlocked car parked in an alley in the 1100 block of Oak Street and stole sunglasses, a gift card and other miscellaneous items during the overnight hours on Dec. 14-15.

HOME BURGLARY
A resident in the 200 block of Sheridan Road reported that someone broke in between 1:19 and 1:28 p.m. on Dec. 18, but there was no immediate reported loss.

IDENTITY THEFT
A resident in the 700 block of Bryant Avenue reported that someone used their credit card between Nov. 30 and Dec. 7 to make two online purchases for a total of $3,219.38.

THEFT
Someone reportedly stole two clothing deposit boxes from a parking lot in the 1000 block of Tower Road between 6 a.m. on Dec. 16 and 6 a.m. on Dec. 17, for a loss greater than $500.

CRIMINAL DAMAGE
A resident in the 400 block of Rosewood Avenue reported discovering that between 6 p.m. on Dec. 16 and 6 p.m. on Dec. 17 that someone had damaged a decorative landscaping light for a cost of $35 to repair.

THEFT
A resident in the 700 block of Oak Street reported discovering that between 4 p.m. on Dec. 17 and 1 p.m. on Dec. 19 that someone stole a child safety seat and a Trek brand bicycle from a condominium garage for a loss of $2,750.

CAR BURGLARY
A resident of the 900 block of Ash Street reported that someone entered an unlocked vehicle parked in a driveway and stole $100 worth of various tools and cash between 9 p.m. Dec. 19 and 7 a.m. on Dec. 20.

CAR BURGLARY
Another resident of the 900 block of Ash Street reported that someonetime the previous night someone had rummaged through several unlocked vehilce that had been parked in the driveway. There was no immediate reported loss.

CAR BURGLARY
A resident of the 100 block of DeWindt Road reported on Dec. 20 that someone had stolen a book bag from inside an unlocked vehicle during the previous overnight hours. The bag was later found by a neighbor.

CAR BURGLARY
Another resident of the 100 block of DeWindt Road reported that someone got into two unlocked vehicles in a driveway and stole $360 worth of various gift cards, a raincoat and cash during the overnight hours of Dec. 19-20.

STOLEN CAR
Someone stole a car parked in a driveway of the 1100 block of Sunset Road between 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 and 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 20. The car had been left unlocked with the keys inside. It was found later in another town. The incident remains under investigation.

IDENTITY THEFT
A resident in the 400 block of Sunset Road reported on Dec. 20 that someone had more than $1,000 in unauthorized ATM withdrawals from their bank account between Dec. 12 and Dec. 15.

IDENTITY THEFT
A resident in the 600 block of Prospect Avenue reported that someone made an unauthorized purchase of $270.35 using their credit card between midnight on Dec. 19 and 3 p.m. on Dec. 21.

CRIMINAL DAMAGE
Someone damaged several holiday decorations and a potted plant in or around a church in the 100 block of Linden Street around 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 22. Police checked the area but did not find any suspects. The total amount of damage was not immediately known.

CRIMINAL DAMAGE
A resident of the 500 block of Willow Road reported that someone damaged the holiday decorations on their front lawn between 8 p.m. on Dec. 21 and 2 a.m. on Dec. 22. The total amount of damage was not immediately known.

IDENTITY THEFT
A resident in the 600 block of Lincoln Avenue reported that someone opened up a Nicor Gas account in their name between May 12, 2014 and June 12, 2015 and made $439.67 in unauthorized charges with it.

THEFT
Someone reportedly stole an iPhone worth $800 from a locker at New Trier High School between 9:30 a.m. and 10:05 a.m. on Dec. 22. The incident is being investigated.

IDENTITY THEFT
A resident in the 300 block of Cedar Street reported that someone tried to withdraw money from their account between 4 and 5 p.m. on Dec. 21 but were unsuccessful.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

Paul A. Kotz, 49, of the 1200 block of Cherry Street in Winnetka, was arrested Dec. 22 at 10:48 a.m. at the Winnetka Police Department and charged with disorderly conduct in connection with an investigation into an alleged incident that took place in or around a Chase Bank in the 700 block of Elm Street on Dec. 7.

A 16-year-old New Trier girl was arrested Dec. 14 at 10:45 a.m. at the Winnetka Police Department in connection with an investigation into an incident that took place at New Trier High School on Dec. 11. The case was referred to a peer jury.

GLENCOE

INCIDENTS

BAD PLATES

Police pulled over a vehicle near I-94 and Dundee Road around 11:11 a.m. on Dec. 21 after a routine license plate check indicated a vehicle's plates were suspended due to a lack of car insurance. The driver showed proof of insurance to the cops, who confiscated the plates. The motorist was released without charges.

CRIMINAL DAMAGE

A resident in the 100 block of Glenwood Avenue reported shortly before 8 p.m. on Dec. 26 that someone had cut three extension cords to their backyard lights, doing a reported $400 in damage.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

CANNABIS

An 18-year-old Evanston man was ticketed for possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia at 10:28 p.m. on Dec. 22 near the intersection of Forestway Drive and Elder Court.

---

NORTHFIELD

INCIDENTS

CAR BURGLARY

A resident in the 200 block of Lagoon Drive reported that someone entered an unlocked van parked in the driveway between 5 p.m. Dec. 17 and 10:20 a.m. Dec. 18.

CAR BURGLARY

A resident in the 0-100 block of Meadowview Drive reported that someone entered a car that was presumed to have been left unlocked while parked in the driveway between 6 p.m. Dec. 19 and 2 p.m. Dec. 20.

THEFT

A resident of Rolling Ridge Road reported that someone stole a package from the front porch of the home around 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 16. A postal truck was seen parked in the driveway right before a second vehicle, described as a sedan, drove through the driveway. The incident remains under investigation.

EGGINGS

Over the last several weekends, someone has been throwing eggs and toilet paper at a home in the 2000 block of Bracken Lane, it was reported on the morning of Dec. 21. Police are investigating.

THEFT

An employee in the 200 block of Waukegan Road reported shortly after noon on Dec. 21 that some sound equipment that had been paid for was not received.

POSSIBLE RUSE BURGLARY ATTEMPT

A resident in the 1800 block of Winnetka Road reported at 4:23 p.m. on Dec. 21 that an uninvited man had showed up claiming he needed to "check the water." The resident allowed the man in, but when he was asked for identification he left the home. A second man was seen standing just outside the front door, and a third person was seen sitting in a vehicle outside the home. Detectives are investigating.

POSSIBLE RUSE ATTEMPT

A resident from the Regentwood Subdivision in Northfield reported at 4:52 p.m. on Dec. 21 that a man had showed up uninvited and wanted to come in to check the water. When the resident refused, the man left the area in a vehicle. The incident remains under investigation.

RESIDENTIAL RUSE BURGLARY

A resident from the 1800 block of Old Willow Road in Northfield reported at 3:46 p.m. that three “tan complected” men had entered a home claiming to be working as maintenance men for the local condo association. They took an unknown amount of jewelry and left the scene on foot. There was no description of a vehicle and the incident remains under investigation.

TOILET PAPER

A resident of the 500 block of Thornwood Lane reported that people had toilet papered their home at 10:46 p.m. on Dec. 22 and 6:21 p.m. on Dec. 26. Police are investigating.

ARREST

A 21-year-old Chicago man was arrested at 4:06 a.m. on Dec. 20 after police found him sleeping in a stolen vehicle near the intersection of Sunset Ridge and Willow roads. The Cook County state's attorney's office declined to press felony charges of possession of a stolen motor vehicle and instead, the man was charged with criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor.

Community Safety Alert from the Northfield Police

Recently there have been multiple reported “Ruse” burglaries in the area. These incidents have targeted senior citizens’ residences in which 2-3 males knock on resident’s door claiming to be a representative of the Village or City needing to check the resident’s interior water line (regarding water issues in the area). Once these individuals have made entrance into the residence, a distraction of the resident is conducted by one individual, like running water or banging on pipes, while the others steal/target personal property of the resident. The Northfield Police recommend that you do not open the door when an unknown person asks to check your residence for any reason. Call the Police first so these individuals can be verified.

Last Week: 'Bowling Equipment' Find, Check Forgery, Footprints Seen: Glencoe, Northfield, Winnetka Police Blotter: Dec. 14 - Dec. 20

Stay Patched In!

_{Top photo via Winnetka PD}