Crime & Safety
Wilmette Blotter: Link Suspected in String of Auto Burglaries
The following incidents were reported between Aug. 15 and 22 by the Wilmette police.
BURGLARY RESIDENTIAL
A security alarm alerted police to a break-in at a home in the 100 block of Garrison Avenue about 9:32 p.m. Aug. 20. When police arrived, they discovered the patio door ajar, muddy footprints, a prying tool and both window screens removed in the kitchen. The residents went out of town that day, according to the report.
BURGLARY MOTOR VEHICLE
A car in the 400 block of 5th Street was burglarized between 7 p.m. Aug. 20 and 3:30 a.m. Aug. 21. The unlocked 2006 Audi's center console had been opened and ransacked. The missing items were later found at the scene of another burglary that occurred Aug. 21.
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A resident of the 300 block of Laurel Avenue approached police on Aug. 21 to report a burglary of his son's unlocked Volkswagen Jetta. The incident occurred overnight and was discovered at 9:42 a.m. when the glove box was found jammed shut. No items were reported missing.
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An unlocked Toyota Highlander parked in the 400 block of Central Avenue was burglarized between midnight and 11:32 a.m. Aug. 21. The glove box and center console were found open and loose change inside the vehicle was taken. Authorities suspect it is related to other auto burglaries.
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A GPS device and at least $6 in quarters were stolen from a BMW parked in the 400 block of Central Avenue between Aug. 20 and 21.
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An Olympic 35mm camera, two black iPods, Nike high-top tennis shoes, a yellow backpack and a silver Macbook Pro were stolen from a Honda parked in the 300 block of 3rd Street between midnight and 8:33 a.m. Aug. 21. The items were later found .
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A Garmin GPS device, valued at $350, a Ziploc bag of $5 in coins and CDs were taken from a car parked in the 200 block of 17th Street between Aug. 14 and 15.
THEFT
Seven bales of cardboard, weighing 200 pounds each, were stolen from Treasure Island Food, 911 Ridge Rd., between Aug. 21 and 22. The items are valued at $150.
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The locks were cut to gain entry to a shed at the sailing beach, 100 Lake Ave., between 10 p.m. Aug. 21 and 8 a.m. Aug. 22. Nothing of value was apparently taken, according to the report.
ARREST
A 56-year-old Chicago man was stopped in the 1700 block of Wilmette Avenue at 9:13 p.m. Aug. 19 for throwing garbage out the driver's side window. It was later determined that the man was driving without a license and he was subsequently arrested.
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A 33-year-old homeless man was arrested at Shorewood Park at 4:55 a.m. Aug. 19 for violating his probation. The man, , was found sleeping on a bench.
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A 28-year-old Wheeling man was arrested in the 100 block of Green Bay Road at 4:22 p.m. Aug. 18 on charges of attempting to deal Adderall. Wilmette police arranged to meet with the man after they discovered his Craigslist ad, which said he wanted to meet a cute girl and share some of the drug, which is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
DRIVING CITATION
A 28-year-old Wilmette man was stopped and cited in the 100 block of Briar Avenue on Aug. 17 because the rear hatch of his car was open and items were falling out. Further investigation by police revealed the man was driving without a license and a cannabis grinder containing residue was found in the car.
CRIMINAL DAMAGE
The roof of Highcrest Middle School, 569 Hunter Rd., was vandalized during the early morning hours of Aug. 17. An employee estimates the damage at $300.
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Bricks were stolen from the bottom of the Old School Bell Tower in Howard Park, 700 17th St., between March and August. The Wilmette Park District working to replace the stolen material.
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A Polish flag was graffitied on a home in the 200 block of 16th Street between 9:30 p.m. Aug. 15 and 1:48 p.m. Aug. 16.
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A large Swastika and the word "fagots"--with the o in the shape of a heart--were graffitied onto the garage door and trash cans of a home in the 1600 block of Washington Avenue between Aug. 15 and 16.
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"Polska b&@$#%" was graffitied on the street in front of a home in the 900 block of Yale Road between Aug. 15 and 16.
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A pair of eyes and eyebrows were spray painted on the west wall of Harper Elementary, 1101 Dartmouth Ave., between Aug. 12 and 15.
FRAUD DECEPTION
A resident in the 100 block of 19th Street reported on Aug. 16 that a contract worker she paid $700 had violated their agreement. The man agreed to build a bookcase for her home on April 25 and had since made excuses in completing the project.
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An unauthorized withdrawal of $180 was made from a resident's account at the Wilmette Chase Bank, 1200 Central Ave., between Aug. 4 and 15.
UNDERAGE DRINKING
A 19-year-old man was stopped at 12:44 a.m. Aug. 12 after police saw him cross the Metra tracks while the gate was down at the intersection of Oakwood Avenue and Poplar Drive. The man had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and an open container of beer. A breath test revealed that his blood alcohol content level was .145. The man was given an underage drinking citation.
