Illegal Christmas Light Display; Exploding Batteries: Blotter

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — The following information comes from the Buffalo Grove Police Department (except when noted) and court records as a record of incidents reported to police and those arrested on criminal charges, which represent accusations by the state that are often dropped or reduced.

Updated information may be available from the Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Everyone arrested is presumed to be innocent unless found guilty in court beyond a reasonable doubt.

ARRESTS

RETAIL THEFT

Kathleen A. Lewandowski, 25, of the 0-100 block of Hawkins Circle, Wheaton, and Felicia Lynn Sanchez, 26, of the 2000 block of N Apple Lane, Woodridge, are accused of burglary, retail theft, and were arrested at 9:32 p.m. Jan. 9 at Jewel, 79 McHenry Road. According to a loss prevention officer at the store, the women grabbed items in the drug aisle and put them into a black purse and the front pocket of a hooded sweatshirt. They then were seen taking items of lesser value and attempting to pay for those. When they noticed they were being watched by security, the women left the store without paying for any of the items, valued at $655.32. All items were recovered. Both were scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 10 in Waukegan.

INCIDENTS

RETAIL THEFT

• A manager at Woodman's Food Market, 1550 E Deerfield Parkway, called police at 2:14 p.m. Jan. 10 to report a man in his 30s, wearing a black zip-up and blue jeans, attempted to steal a shopping cart full of groceries. When confronted by store security as he drew suspicion due to his groceries not being bagged, the man said he had paid, but lost the receipt. He was asked to return to the store, which he complied, but then ran off during questioning. There was no loss to the grocery store. The groceries were valued at $236.83.
• An employee at Jewel, 79 N McHenry Road, reported at 7:02 p.m. Jan. 11 that a man had placed four cases of Modelo Special into a shopping cart and had left the store without paying. They were seen getting into a white Nissan.

BURGLARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE

A resident in the 0-100 block of Columbus Parkway reported at 2:40 p.m. Jan. 10 that their vehicle had been burglarized at some point in the past two months. He had left the car parked in the driveway on Nov. 22, 2020, and returned on Jan. 10. He had not entered the vehicle and wasn't sure what had been stolen other than a "bucket of equipment." Police noted the rear passenger side window had been broken out by an unknown object.

FRAUD

A Trace Drive resident called police at 9:21 p.m. Jan. 11 to report that a stimulus check from the U.S. Government had been sent to an unknown person. When checking the IRS website, the resident said a $600 stimulus check she was slated to receive had been deposited into an account she didn't recognize. She had contacted the IRS to correct the issue.

BURGLARY

• Police responded to Verizon Wireless, 812 N Milwaukee Avenue at 2:58 p.m. Jan. 14 for a burglary. An alarm company was watching the burglary occur and the premise had a burglar alarm activation. Upon arrival, police located the north glass door was broken and merchandise was thrown on the floor. The back door was also open and merchandise with more merchandise thrown on the ground.
• Police responded at 4:49 a.m. Jan. 10 to Smokey's Discount Tobacco, 25 N Buffalo Grove Road, concerning a burglary alarm. They found the front door to the business was shattered with most of the glass missing. There were also glass shards scattered throughout the inside of the store near the front door. No one was located inside.

THEFT

An employee at Woodman's, 1550 E Deerfield Parkway, reported at 1:50 p.m. Jan. 13 two males stole 15 bottles of liquor, valued at $600. The first person was seen on surveillance video placing 12 bottles of liquor inside his jacket and left without paying for them. The second person was seen leaving the store with three bottles of liquor inside his jacket. The duo left in a black Mazda.

IDENTITY THEFT

Officers took reports from 40 fraud complainants who received notifications from either their employers or the Illinois Department of Employment Security that their information was used to apply for benefits without their permission.

INTOXICATED PERSON

A manager at Speedway, 201 N Milwaukee Ave., reported at 4:58 p.m. Jan. 13 that a customer put two cans of beer in her purse. The manager asked her to remove the beer and leave the store, to which she complied, but then returned almost immediately. She then attempted to put a bottle of wine in her jacket, according to the employee. Police arrived and spoke to the woman, who they said appeared to be very intoxicated and had two cans of beer inside her bag. She was then told to return the beer and leave the business. Police gave the woman transportation back to her address.

ORDINANCE VIOLATION

A resident in the 800 block of Woodhouse Lane called police at 5:52 p.m. Jan. 8 to report a neighbor was displaying their Christmas light show though their permit had expired. When police arrived, the light show was not functioning. The neighbor told police that their father was visiting from out of the country, and they had turned on the lights for a minute, a violation of the permit.

SUSPICIOUS INCIDENT

A resident in the 600 block of Saratoga Lane reported at 8:53 p.m. Jan. 8 that they had received mail with a hand-written note on the previous day. The resident was concerned as it said, "I live in your neighborhood and need a ride to court tomorrow to obtain emergency restraining order. I cannot be in a car with perfume, air freshener, or lotion. I can not wear a mask." Upon review, police determined that an email attached to the letter was spam.

INFORMATION FOR POLICE

A Towne Place Circle resident called police at 12:12 p.m. Jan. 12 to report that they had purchased batteries from a store in Northbrook about a month ago. When they attempted to change the batteries, the batteries exploded and caused damage to the charging device. The resident said it is not the first time that they have received a faulty product from the store.

PAST BUFFALO GROVE POLICE BLOTTER

• Meat Dispute At Jewel; Surgical Masks Stolen From Car: Blotter for Dec. 28, 2020-Jan. 7, 2021
• Thieves Steal Nearly $3K In Whiskey From Jewel-Osco: Blotter for Dec. 21-27, 2020

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