The Blotter Spotter: Quirky Suburban Crime

Coffee Grounds for Arrest

LA GRANGE, Dec. 11— A man living in the 0-100 block of North Brainard Ave. was arrested Dec. 11 for disorderly conduct under a local ordinance after La Grange police said he refused the requests of a woman in his apartment building to leave her alone. On the morning of Dec. 10, police received two reports from the neighbor that the man had been leaving the woman gifts and she asked him not to, and that he had been harassing her and she asked him to stop. Police arrested him after the woman reported at about 11:15 a.m. Dec. 11 that he had come to her apartment early in the morning and left coffee at the door. 

Time to Switch to Decaf?

HINSDALE, Dec. 7—A 39-year-old Western Springs woman got into an argument with another customer in the drive-through line of the McDonald's on York Road. According to a police report, the woman got out of her car on the morning of Dec. 7 and threw her coffee cup at another car with a female driver inside, then smashed the empty cup on the roof of the vehicle. Hinsdale police said several witnesses were disturbed by what they saw. Police said the driver with the coffee was angry because the other driver was waiting for food and her car was blocking the exit; McDonald's personnel had asked the second driver to pull forward. The driver who threw the coffee was given a ticket and released to appear in court.

Ghost Buster

LA GRANGE, Dec. 14—A woman living in the 100 block of north Ashland Avenue heard a basement window break at about 9:03 p.m. and called police worried about a burglary. Police said weather broke the window and no footprints were near the window.

Police Called to Scrub Sales Call

LA GRANGE, Dec. 13—Police responded at about 4:57 p.m. to a persistent salesman who would not leave a business in the 600 block of south LaGrange Road where he was demonstrating a cleaning solution. The man was described as about 35 years old with facial hair, and wearing a black-and-gray jacket, blue shirt and jeans. He was carrying s white bag with cleaning supplies.

All It Takes is One Bad Egg

HINSDALE, Dec. 11 —Sometime between 5 p.m. on Dec. 11 and 5 a.m. on Dec. 12, someone stole $300 out of the cash register at New Yolk New Yolk on First Street. Hinsdale police said the restaurant was closed at the time. "There was no forced entry, and it's suspected that somebody with authorized access to the building gained entry," said Hinsdale Deputy Chief Mark Wodka. The only damage to the restaurant seemed to be to the cash register.

Can't Call the Cop Cab

BURR RIDGE, Dec. 10—A 22-year-old Chicago woman was charged with disorderly conduct. Police said the woman reported a false robbery in order to get a ride home from the police.

Beavers

GLEN ELLYN, Dec. 8—An officer was sent to the 600 block of Lake Road for a report of a theft. The dispatcher advised the officer that a tree located at Lake Ellyn Park had been stolen by an unknown offender(s). The tree has an estimated value of $600.

Just a Bad Case of Static Cling?

GENEVA, Dec. 8—Police said a man was seen exposing himself at about 12:28 p.m. inside Jo-Ann Fabrics, 714 Commons Drive. After officers arrived at the store, dispatch advised that the suspect had been escorted out and was heading in the direction of the DSW shoe store. Officers later discovered a man matching the description waiting at a bus stop in Geneva Commons. But he was not arrested, pending further investigation. Anyone who witnessed the incident in the store was asked to call police. 

Gnome Books a Flight

DOWNERS GROVE, Dec. 9—At 7:02 p.m. it was reported that a garden gnome was thrown through the window of a van parked in the 6400 block of Nash Street causing $400 in damage.  The gnome, which belonged to a neighbor, was valued at $20.

Man Flights Dog

ELMHURST, Dec. 10—A driver told police that a man threw a dog from the driver side window of his vehicle, which was stopped in traffic at North Avenue and Route 83, at 6:49 a.m. The man who threw the dog continued westbound on North Avenue and left the dog in traffic. The driver who witnessed the incident flagged the suspect down, but the dog-thrower waved him off and continued driving.

The dog was taken to DuPage Animal Hospital. Police were unable to locate the suspect. On Dec. 14, a spokesman for the animal hospital said the dog was healthy and doing well.

Another Interesting Trip Along Route 83

ELMHURST, Dec. 4—Someone got out of a car at a stop light at Route 83 and St. Charles Road at 10:28 a.m. and smashed the rear window of a victim's car with a baseball bat. Damage is estimated at $600.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity in our towns, using information provided by official agencies. Persons charged with a crime, or issued a citation for violation of a local ordinance, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you or a family member are charged with a crime or cited for a violation, and the charge or citation is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor of this Patch site and we will do follow-up reporting on the case.