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Crime & Safety

Wilmette Police Blotter: Teens Snatch Tip Jar from Local Drive-Thru

The following arrest information was provided by the Wilmette Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. For questions about this blotter, contact: jordan.s.graham@gmail.com.

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Theft

Three teenage boys in a dark-colored SUV reportedly stole a tip jar containing approximately $20 from the drive-thru window of an eatery located in the 3500 block of Lake Avenue. According to the police report, the three teens pulled up to the drive thru window, ordered one coffee and one breakfast sandwich, paid with a gift card and got a receipt before grabbing the tip jar and speeding off. An employee told police that after she finished serving the teens, she turned away, and that is when the tip jar was stolen. The employee said that she did not recognize any of the offenders. The eatery has surveillance cameras but the employee told police that she did not have access to the footage.

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Retail Theft Arrest

Two Chicago women were arrested and charged with retail theft on Nov. 3 after police said store personnel observed them stealing toys, children’s shoes and clothing, a Christmas ornament and a bath rug, worth a combined $392.73, from a store in the 3200 block of Lake Avenue. Gilda J. Lopez DeLima, 48, of the 2900 block of North Ridgeway Avenue, Chicago, was charged with one count of misdemeanor retail theft, while Lesly S. Lima-Lopez, who lives at the same address, was issued a local ordinance ticket for retail theft.

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According to the police report, a store employee told police that he observed the two women, accompanied by two children, ages four and 10, walking around the store, taking various items and hiding the goods in their baby carriage. When the women allegedly left the store without paying for the items, the employee said he followed them out and took them into custody. Though the women reportedly live at the same address and have similar last names, it is unclear whether the two are related.

Cannabis Activity

Two juveniles were arrested and issued local ordinance tickets for cannabis possession and interference with a village officer after police said they chased at least one of the teens down on foot while responding to an unfounded burglary call in the 1600 block of Forest Avenue at 1:32 p.m. on Nov. 2. According to the police morning report, officers responding to a burglary in progress call observed a subject running through a yard “at a high rate of speed”. After police caught the individual, officers learned that the teen was running because he had been involved in drug activity. The teens were age 16 and 17.

Identity Theft

A Wilmette man told police on Oct. 30 that he had been the target of attempted identity theft three times during the previous month. According to the police report, the man told police that in early October, her received a letter informing him that he had been denied approval for “bill me later” services internet banking company, even though he had never applied for the service. The man said that on Oct. 27, he received a fraudulent email asking him to reactivate his account at a bank for military members and veterans, though the man never had any such account. A third incident involved someone claiming to be the victim calling his bank and requesting that a new credit card be sent to an Indiana address. The man’s bank reportedly did not issue the card after insufficient information was provided to do so.

A Wilmette resident told police on Oct. 31 that she had received a fraudulent email on the previous day that claimed to be from her bank and prompted her to enter her ATM pin number. The woman reportedly informed the bank and changed her account information.

Traffic Arrest

Clara N. Lee, 27, of the 700 block of Elder Lane, Glencoe, was arrested in the 1200 block of Lake Avenue at 12:59 a.m. on Oct. 31 for allegedly driving with an expired license.

Epifanio Gallegos, 35, of the 10000 block of Holly Lane, Des Planes, was arrested at 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 4 for driving without a valid license after he was stopped for speeding in the 3500 block of Lake Avenue.

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