Gaming System Theft; Fake Call From Amazon: Blotter

NORTHBROOK, IL — The following information comes from the Northbrook Police Department 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 Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Everyone arrested is presumed to be innocent unless found guilty in court beyond a reasonable doubt.

ARRESTS

DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED

Jaimie Melendez, 38, of the 900 block of N Ridgeway, Chicago, is accused of driving while license revoked, violating median, and was arrested at 8:59 p.m. Jan. 12 at Pfingsten and Techny roads. She was released after posting a $2,500 bond, and assigned a court date of March 11 in Skokie.

INCIDENTS

DECEPTIVE PRACTICE

A resident of Lindenwood Lane reported at 7:06 p.m. Jan. 14 that they received a telephone call from someone who claimed to be from Amazon, stating that there were fraudulent charges on their account. The complainant gave remote control of their computer to the caller. The caller informed the complainant that their system was hacked and that they needed to purchase $4,000 in gift cards to pay the hackers off. The complainant did as instructed and supplied the caller with the card information.

THEFT

A citizen called police at 1:28 p.m. Jan. 15 to report they had used a credit card to purchase a gaming system online. The complainant said that when a family member went to pick it up curbside at Best Buy, 1000 block of Willow Road, they were told that the item had already been picked up. The complainant checked with the store manager, who advised them to contact the corporate offices.

FORGERY

A Dundee Road resident reported at 2 p.m. Jan. 15 that while checking their bank records, they found that a check, which they issued in 2019, was initially cashed and then cashed again in late 2020. The complainant contacted the person that the check was issued to initially and learned that someone had only cashed the check the initial time. It was unknown who cashed the check the second time.

SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE

A resident of the 2000 block of Illinois Road called police at 10:28 p.m. Jan 15 to report that they heard their vehicle alarm sounding and then witnessed a black-colored pickup truck leave the area. The complainant did not believe that their vehicle was entered.

CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY

A citizen reported that between Jan. 18-19 someone damaged several parking signs in the commuter parking lot.

IDENTITY THEFT

Police took three phone calls on Jan. 19 from citizens who were alerted by either their employer’s human resources department or the Illinois Department of Employment Security that their information had been used to apply for unemployment benefits which they did not apply for.

FRAUD

A Mayapple Court resident called police at 3:25 p.m. Jan. 19 to report that a fraudulent check was issued from their checking account by an unknown subject without their permission.

HARASSMENT BY ELECTRONIC MEANS

A resident of Commercial Avenue reported at 2:12 p.m. Jan. 20 that they received negative feedback from someone who was then blocked from posting on the complainant’s site again. The person then sent the complainant an email accusing them of denying their freedom of speech and made some threatening comments to them.

RECENT NORTHBROOK POLICE BLOTTER REPORTS

• Road Rage Incident Leads To Arrest; Beer Stolen At BP: Blotter for Jan. 8-13, 2021
• Family Member Egged At Home; Metra Bathroom Graffiti: Blotter for Jan. 1-7, 2021

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