Commandeered Tractor Driven Into Park District Building: Blotters

The following information comes from the Glencoe, Northfield, Wilmette and Winnetka police departments as a record of police activity and incidents reported to the police. Criminal charges represent merely accusations by the state and are often dropped or reduced. Updated information may be available from the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Anyone arrested is innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

GLENCOE

INCIDENTS

IDENTITY THEFTS

• Someone used the identity of a Mayfair Avenue resident to open up a Comcast account and accrue nearly $2,400 in charges and made four unsuccessful attempts to open up a Sprint account prior to Aug. 30.
• A Greenleaf Avenue resident reported on the afternoon of Sept. 6 that someone had used their identity to buy a car from a dealership out of state. There was no loss reported.
• A Greenwood Avenue resident reported on the morning of Sept. 13 that someone had used their identity to open an AT&T account and buy $2,000 worth of products.
• A Drexel Avenue resident reported on the afternoon of Sept. 15 that someone had used their identity to open up an Xfinity account and accrue $1,000 in charges.
• A Green Bay Road resident reported around 7 a.m. Sept. 20 that someone had unsuccessfully tried to access their Chase Bank account.
• A Linden Avenue resident reported around 4:30 p.m. Sept. 21 that someone had tried to max out their credit car. The thief was able to provide the resident's name, birthday, social security and credit card numbers but failed to provide the separate verification method.

WIRE FRAUD
Someone scammed a Madison Avenue resident into sending a $50,000 wire transfer. Police were notified on the morning of Sept. 3 after the scammer asked for another $127,000.

CAR BURGLARY ATTEMPT
A resident in the 300 block of Woodlawn Avenue reported around noon on Sept. 10 that someone had rummaged through an SUV but nothing was reported stolen.

HIT-AND-RUN
Someone struck an SUV in the 900 block of Green Bay Road prior to 2:35 p.m. Sept. 10 and fled after causing $1,500 in damage.

GIFT CARD SCAM
A Woodlawn Avenue resident reported on the night of Sept. 12 that someone had scammed them into buying almost $17,000 worth of Target gift cards. The scammer claimed someone else was using the resident's social security number and that that they would provide a new number. The resident was eventually told by Target employees that it was a scam and hung up the caller before freezing the cards, but it was not known how much may have been spent.

AGGRAVATED FLEEING AND ELUDING

• A motorcyclist failed to stop in the 1100 block of Sheridan Road around 4:45 p.m. on Sept. 16. The biker had an improperly displayed license plate and evaded police at speeds of more than 20 mph above the limit.
• Four motorcyclists fled police around 9 p.m. Sept. 19 in the area of Dundee and Green Bay roads after refused to yield to officers on their way to an emergency call. Police said the bikers drove recklessly, crossing onto the wrong side of the divider, driving in the wrong lane and running stop signs.

PACKAGE THEFT
A resident in the 100 block of Green Bay Road reported around 5 p.m. Sept. 18 that they ordered $50 worth of items from Walgreens online that were never received despite FedEx saying they had been delivered. The resident did not wish to pursue an investigation into the theft.

STOLEN CARS
Someone stole a 2017 Infiniti and a 2018 Mercedes from the 500 block of Drexel Avenue after they were left unlocked with a keys inside.

LITTERING
A resident in the 500 block of Vernon Avenue reported around 7:45 a.m. that there was an ongoing problem of someone tossing old lottery tickets on their lawn.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

Adrian Jan Koczaski, 31, of the 3200 block of North Linder Avenue, Chicago, was arrested around 11:30 p.m. Sept. 19 following a traffic stop in the 800 block of Skokie Boulevard. He was arrested after officers discovered an active arrest warrant for him for failing to show up in court in connection with a trespassing charge. Koczaski was also issued a citation for failure to proceed with caution in a construction zone.

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NORTHFIELD

INCIDENTS

SCAM ATTEMPT
A Willow Road resident came to the police station on the afternoon of Aug. 28 to report that they had gotten an email claiming their computer had been hacked and demanding $1,400 to unlock it. The resident did not make any payments, contacting the computer's manufacturer and police instead.

SOLICITOR COMPLAINT
A resident in the 1800 block of Bosworth Lane reported an unlicensed solicitor in the area. Officers located the solicitor and explained how they would need to obtain a permit from the village.

SUSPICIOUS INCIDENTS

• A resident in the 200 block of Happ Road reported that someone had moved a pair of exterior door mats between 9 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. on Aug. 29. Officers did not find anything suspicious in a check of the home.
• A resident in the 1800 block of Old Willow Road reported a suspicious man had knocked on their door. Officers found the man, who explained he was a contractor who had mistakenly gone to the wrong address.
• Police were called to the 800 block of West Frontage Road for a report of a person sleeping in a car. Officers spoke to the person, who explained they had been driving from Minnesota to Central Illinois and pulled off the Edens Expressway to rest.
• A resident in the 1800 block of Bosworth Lane reported that they found a letter at their home during the week of Sept. 2 that offered to purchase their house. Police contacted the person named in the letter and informed them of the village's soliciting regulations.

IDENTITY THEFT

• A Rolling Ridge Road resident reported on the afternoon of Sept. 5 that their computer had been tampered with and someone had gained access to their checking account. The resident asked officers to document the incident but not investigate it any further.
• A Longmeadow Road resident reported on the afternoon of Sept. 8 that someone had opened up an unauthorized credit card in their name. The resident also received a letter from the postal service requesting confirmation that they had set up a new forwarding address.

CHECK FRAUD
An Avon Avenue resident reported around 12:30 p.m. Sept. 2 that they have have been given a fraudulent check.

CAR BURGLARY

• Someone burglarized an unlocked car parked at an animal hospital in the 800 block of Frontage Road between noon and 8 p.m. Sept. 2.
• Someone burglarized the car of a Waukegan resident that had been left unlocked outside a country club in the 2100 block of Sunset Ridge Road. Several credit cards were taken from inside and later used to make unauthorized purchases.

THEFT
Someone stole a leaf-blower worth an estimated $560 from a contractor working in the 2200 block of Drury Lane on Aug. 31.

BATTERY
An employee of the Sunset Ridge County Club reported on Sept. 12 that they had been battered by a fellow country club employee around 9:30 a.m. that day. The employee wanted police to document the incident but did not wish to press charges.

VANDALISM
Staff at the Mariano's, 1822 Willow Road, reported around 5 p.m. Sept. 22 that a group of minors had spray-painted several shopping carts in the parking lot.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

A juvenile was arrested at 4:38 p.m. Aug. 30 in the area of Sunset Ridge and Winnetka roads and charged with fleeing and attempting to elude police, driving 64 mph in a 35 mph zone, possession of a small amount of cannabis and running a stop sign.

WILMETTE

INCIDENTS

ROBBERY
Two men robbed the 7-Eleven at 500 Skokie Blvd around 11 p.m. Aug. 27. Police were told they pair entered the store and demanded money but did not display a weapon or make any threats. They reached over the counter and grabbed $100 in cash and four packs of cigarettes before fleeing the store, police reported.

Both robbers were described as between 20 and 30 years old, 5-foot, 8-inches to 5-foot, 10-inches tall and white or possibly Hispanic, police said.

CAR BURGLARIES

• Someone stole a 24-inch television from the rear cargo area of an unlocked Chevy SUV parked in the 200 block of Central Park Avenue between noon on Aug. 25 and 11:15 a.m. Aug. 26. Police reported TV was found on a curb a block away.
• A resident in the 900 block of Harvard Lane reported that people entered their vehicle and opened all four windows and the sunroof between 5:45 and 7:45 a.m. Aug. 26.
• Someone got into an unlocked car in the 1500 block of Walnut Avenue between 11:30 p.m Sept. 17 and 8 a.m. Sept. 18, stealing a wallet, cards, cash and rare coins from inside.
• A resident in the 1700 block of Walnut Avenue reported that someone stole two pairs of sunglasses, cash and a bracelet from inside an unlocked car between 4 p.m. Sept. 20 and 7 a.m. Sept. 23.
• A resident in the 1500 block of Walnut Avenue reported that someone stole personal items from their unlocked car between 9 p.m. Sept. 21 and 9 a.m. Sept. 22.

STOLEN CARS

• A resident in the 400 block of 3rd Street reported that someone stole their vehicle from in front of their home after it had been left unlocked and with a key fob still inside between Aug. 26 and Aug. 27.
• A resident of the 500 block of Forest Avenue reported that someone stole an unlocked car parked, possibly with the keys left inside, between 7 p.m. Sept. 9 and 7:10 a.m. Sept. 10. The car was found by Chicago police around 5 p.m. the next day in the 7400 block of North Seeley Avenue.

THEFTS

• Someone stole unattended personal items from a swimmer at Centennial Pool, 2300 Old Glenview Road, between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Aug. 22.
• Someone stole a wallet from inside a purse that had been left unattended in the lobby of Mather Place, 2801 Old Glenview Road, between 10 a.m. and noon on Sept. 4.
• A shopper at the Fresh Market, 3232 Lake Ave., reported that they discovered their cell phone was missing after leaving the store, though they were uncertain if it had been stolen there.
• A patron of Panera Bread, 1199 Wilmette Ave., reported that someone stole their wallet from inside a purse between 10:15 and 10:45 a.m.
• A shopper in the 400 block of Green Bay Road reported that someone stole their bicycle that had been left outside a store prior to 4 p.m. Sept. 26.
• Someone stole a bicycle from the Wilmette Metra station prior to 4 p.m. Sept. 26.

FRAUD
Someone using the name "Ashley Brown" used a counterfeit $100 bill to buy an item at a pet store in the 3200 block of Lake Avenue between Aug. 28 and Aug. 29.

IDENTITY THEFTS

• An Isabella Street resident reported on Sept. 10 that someone had stolen their identity in an unspecified way.
• A Crestview Lane resident reported two fraudulent accounts were opened using their identity at some point prior to 1 p.m. Sept. 22.

GARAGE BURGLARY
A resident in the 600 block of Hibbard Road reported that someone stole their son's bike from an unlocked detached garage between Aug. 1 and Sept. 15.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

Kassandra Rosa, 21, of the 8400 block of West Wilson Avenue, Chicago, was arrested on Aug. 27 and charged with multiple counts of credit card fraud after three of her fellow employees at a hair salon in the 100 block of Skokie Boulevard reported that someone had taken cash and their credit cards from their purses while they were at work.

Police reported the stolen cards were used to buy food, gift cards and airline tickets, which were booked in Rosa's name. At least one employee had suspected her of pilfering the cash and cards.

Robert Irvin, 44, of the 1100 block of Falcon Drive, Rantoul, was arrested around 11 a.m. Aug. 27 in the 600 block of Park Avenue after he was pulled over for a minor traffic violation and found to have three active arrest warrants from Kentucky and DuPage County for charges related to drugs, burglary and failing to appear in court. He was also charged driving without a license and not having insurance.

Yousif J.S. Al-Bazi, 20, of the 2500 block of West Jerome Street, Chicago, was charged with driving under the influence after an officer pulled him over for a minor traffic violation at 1:50 a.m. Sept. 2 in the area of Locust Road and Lake Avenue and reported smelling marijuana on his breath. Police reported Al-Bazi failed field sobriety tests and refused blood and urine tests after he was taken into custody.

Brad E. Bleakney, 63, of the first block of Crayden Road, Hawthorn Woods, was arrested and charged with aggravated driving under the influence, among other charges, after an officer pulled him over in the 2700 block of Illinois Road for minor traffic violations and suspected he was intoxicated.

Police reported Bleakney later provided a breath sample indicating a blood alcohol concentration of 0.236 — nearly four times the legal limit — and Cook County prosecutors approved adding a felony to his charges due to him having at least three previous DUI convictions.

Kathleen M. Duda, 41, of the 2500 block of South 9th Avenue, North Riverside, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol offenses after an officer pulled her over in the area of Crawford Avenue and Central Street in Evanston for a minor traffic violation. Police reported she failed field sobriety tests and provided a breath sample indicating a blood alcohol limit of 0.104.

Allison A. Smith, 29, of the 1500 block of North Green Bay Road, Lake Forest, was arrested shortly after 2:15 a.m. Sept. 11 in the 1200 block of Green Bay Road and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after an officer noticed a car with a blown out front tire swerve into the center turn land and back. The officer smelled alcohol and reported Smith's eyes appeared bloodshot before she failed field sobriety tests and was taken into custody.

Kevin M. Lyon, 29, of the 500 block of Ridge Road, Wilmette, was arrested around 5 p.m. Sept. 11 after an officer who knew he had an active arrest warrant noticed him walking near a gas station in the 300 block of Ridge Road.

Isabel C. Gonzalez, 32, of the 2800 block of North Mulligan Avenue, Chicago, was arrested around 5:30 a.m. Sept. 15 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after officers found her slumped over behind the wheel of a car running in the 3200 block of Lake Avenue. Police reported she failed field sobriety tests and provided a breath sample indicating she had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.104.

WINNETKA

INCIDENTS

CRIMINAL DEFACEMENT

• Someone vandalized a dumpster at Maple Street Beach with white ink between 7:40 p.m. Aug. 25 and 9:42 p.m. Aug. 26, an officer noticed, causing $50 in damage.
• A village employee discovered that someone had used black spray paint to vandalize the southwest wall of a parking structure at Merrill Park between Nov. 8 and Sept. 10.

THEFTS

• Someone siphoned gas out of a vehicle between 5:30 p.m. Aug. 30 and 1:20 p.m. Sept. 1 while it was parked and ahead of a planned repair in the 1000 block of Tower Road.
• A locked bike, helmet and cable worth nearly $1,100 were reported stolen from a bike rack at the Winnetka train station between 7:30 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. Sept. 4.
• Someone stole a locked bicycle worth $670 from the bike rack at the Winnetka train station between 7:10 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Sept. 4.
• A unlocked black and red boy's bicycle worth $425 was stolen between 4:30 and 5 p.m. Sept. 12 from outside the Winnetka Public Library.
• A locked bike worth nearly $700 was stolen from a bike rack at the Winnetka train station between 7:45 a.m. and 6:40 p.m. Sept. 16.
• A violin worth $700 was stolen from the music room at the Skokie School between June 1, 2016, and June 1, 2017, police were told on Sept. 18.
• Someone stole more than $5,000 worth of jewelry from a home in the 1000 block of Vine Street between July 13 and Sept. 18.
• An unattended purse with cash, cards and glasses worth a combined $426 was stolen between 1 and 2:30 p.m.m Sept. 20.

CRIMINAL DAMAGE

• Someone got into the Citibank at 814 Elm St. through an unlocked door and caused $200 in damage to a window at some point prior to 5:36 p.m. Sept. 1.
• Between 3 p.m. Sept. 6 and 7:30 a.m. Sept. 9 at Duke Childs Field, 1321 Willow Road, someone got into a tractor and drove it backward into a maintenance building, damaging both the tractor and the structure required $5,000 in repairs.
• Someone damaged a street sign in the 1200 block of Forest Glen Drive between 11 p.m. Sept. 14 and 6 a.m. Sept. 15.

IDENTITY THEFTS

• A Willow Road resident reported that someone used their identity to open up credit cards at two retailers between July 1 and Sept. 3. Someone also tried to open additional lines of credit but were denied.
• A Sheridan Road resident reported that smone used their identity to try to open up unauthorized accounts at Home Depot and with T-Mobile on Aug. 29.
• A Vine Street resident reported that someone used their identity to open up a PayPal account and make $700 in unauthorized purchases between Sept. 2 and Sept. 12.
• An Apple Tree Road resident reported that someone had used their identity to access their Verizon account and tried to get a debit card from their Chase Bank account between 11 a.m. Sept. 14 and 12:01 a.m. Sept. 16.

RETAIL THEFT
Staff at the Walgreens, 925 Green Bay Road, reported that someone stole $400 worth of items from the store between 8 and 8:50 p.m. on Sept. 11.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

Gregory L. Werner, 36, of the 800 block of Green Bay Road, Winnetka, was arrested at the Winnetka Police Department at 6:20 p.m. Sept. 12 and charged with battery following an investigation into an incident that took place in his apartment building at 12:15 a.m. Sept. 8.

Earlier: Nursing Home Brawl Leads To Domestic Battery Charge; Glenview Woman Charged With Winnetka Identity Theft; Domestic Battery In Attorney's Office: North Shore Police Blotters, Aug. 20–26

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