Unemployment Fraud Remains Rampant; Garage Burglarized: Blotters

The following information comes from the Glencoe, Kenilworth, Northfield, Wilmette and Winnetka police departments as a record of police activity and incidents reported to the police. Criminal charges merely represent accusations by the state, and county prosecutors often choose to drop or reduce them. Updated information may be available from the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Anyone arrested is innocent unless later proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

GLENCOE

INCIDENTS

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SCAM
Between Oct. 21 and Oct. 27, 10 Glencoe residents reported their identities were used to fraudulently apply for unemployment insurance benefits. There were no financial losses yet reported in connection with any of the identity thefts.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

Frankie Costa, 28, of the 2400 block of Driftwood Drive, Fern Park, Florida, was arrested around 11:30 p.m. Oct. 18 and charged with driving under the influence of drugs following a crash near the Edens Expressway and Tower Road. Officers also issued him citations for disobeying a stop sign, improper lane usage, no insurance and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Katherine D. Hightower, 35, of the 20800 block of North Exmoor Avenue, Barrington, was arrested around 8:15 p.m. Oct. 19 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following an encounter with police near the intersection of Greenleaf and South avenues. She was also issued citations for illegal stopping and improper transportation of an open container of alcohol by a driver.

Agustin G. Ramos, 68, of the 1300 block of West Byron Avenue, Chicago, was arrested around 10:30 p.m. Oct. 26 in the 1200 block of Sheridan Road and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving under the influence of alcohol with a breath alcohol concentration of 0.08 or greater. He was also issued citations for damage to property, failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash and improper lane usage.

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KENILWORTH

INCIDENTS/ARRESTS

There were no incidents or arrests to report in the village from Oct. 9 to Oct. 16.

NORTHFIELD

INCIDENTS

FRAUD
A Wagner road resident reported on Oct. 21 that someone had made an unauthorized withdrawal from their checking account.

UNWANTED TEXT
An Eaton Street resident reported on Oct. 22 that someone claiming to be a financial advisor had sent them a text message asking for money. Police told the resident not to respond and to tell officers about any future text messages.

CAR SPOTTED
A resident in the 2300 block of Burr Oak Road reported around 5:45 p.m. on Oct. 22 that a motorist had left the area after apparently looking at the caller's driveway.

TRIMMING REPORTED
Police were called to a home in the 1800 block of Abbott Court for a report that someone was illegally removing trees. Officers arrived and spoke to the homeowner, who explained they were only removing dead branches and were done for the day anyway.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SCAMS

• A Country Lane resident reported on Oct. 19 that someone used their identity to apply for financial assistance from the state of Ohio.
• An employee at Sunset Ridge School District 29 reported on Oct. 19 that someone had used their identity to fraudulently apply for unemployment insurance benefits.
• An Elder Lane resident reported on Oct. 20 that someone had used their identity to fraudulently apply for unemployment insurance benefits.
• On Oct. 23, a Sunset Ridge Road resident reported that someone had used their identity to apply for unemployment insurance benefits.

WILMETTE

INCIDENTS

BIKE THEFT
Someone stole a bicycle from a bike rack outside St. Francis Xavier school, 808 Linden St., at some point prior to Oct. 16

STOLEN CAR
A resident in the 300 block of Ridge Road reported around 3:30 p.m. Oct. 19 that someone stole their car from a parking lot at an unknown time. The resident told police the keys were likely left inside.

GARAGE BURGLARIES
On the morning of Oct. 21, residents discovered that someone had gotten into unlocked garages in the 900 block of Ashland Avenue. In one of them, a car window was smashed and a wallet was stolen. Nothing appeared to be missing from another.

THEFTS

• A resident in the 3100 block of Country Lane reported around noon on Oct. 19 that someone had stolen a table from their backyard.
• A resident in the 1400 block of Lake Avenue reported on Oct. 20 that their violin bow was missing and possible stolen. It was last seen in August, police were told.

CAR BURGLARIES

• A resident in the 1500 block of Walnut Avenue reported around 8:30 a.m. Oct. 16 that someone had stolen unspecified personal items from inside their car during the previous night. It appeared the resident had left their car unlocked.
• Around 2:30 a.m. Oct. 18, a resident in the 700 block of Laramie Avenue flagged down an officer to tell them that someone had stolen unspecified items from inside their unlocked car.
• Someone stole unspecified personal items from inside an unlocked car in the 400 block of Pinecrest Lane at some point prior to 10 p.m. Oct. 18.
• A resident in the 600 block of LaCrosse Avenue reported on Oct. 22 that someone stole personal items from inside their car at an unspecified time.

IDENTITY THEFTS

• On Oct. 16, a Heather Lane resident reported that they received a letter and debit card from the Illinois Department of Employment Security for which they had never applied.
• On Oct. 18, a Thornwood Avenue resident reported someone used their identity to fraudulently file for unemployment insurance benefits.
• On Oct. 19, a Spencer Avenue resident reported that someone used their identity to fraudulently apply for unemployment insurance benefits.
• On Oct. 20, someone used the identity of a Gregory Avenue resident to apply for a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
• On Oct. 20, a Fairway Drive resident reported that someone used their identity to fraudulently apply for unemployment insurance benefits.
• Someone used the identity of a Maple Avenue resident to apply for a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration, police were told on Oct. 20.
• On Oct. 21, residents of Greenleaf Avenue, Laramie Avenue and Glendenning Road reported that someone used their identity to fraudulently apply for unemployment insurance benefits.
• An Elmwood Avenue resident reported on Oct. 21 that someone had used their identity to fraudulently apply for a small business load.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

A 20-year-old Beach Park man was arrested around 11:30 a.m. Oct. 18 and charged with driving with a revoked license and ticketed for speeding after he was pulled over in the 700 block of Green Bay Road.
A 37-year-old Chicago woman was arrested around 11 p.m. on Oct. 19 and charged with driving with a suspended license and ticketed for speeding after she was pulled over near Lake Avenue and 15th Street.

Jesmarie E. Orellana Maldonado, 24, of the 2900 block of North Hoyne Avenue, Chicago, was arrested around 12:45 a.m. Oct. 18 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving under the influence of alcohol with a breath alcohol concentration above 0.08. Officers also issued her citations for speeding and driving in the wrong lane.

WINNETKA

INCIDENTS

THEFT OF UNATTENDED ITEMS

• A patron at the McDonald's, 858 Green Bay Road, reported that someone stole a bag they had left unattended on a table between 3:07 and 3:13 p.m. The bag contained a speaker, phone charger and deodorant for a loss of nearly $150.
• Someone stole an unattended iPhone valued at $700 from Elder Lane Park, 299 Sheridan Road, between 3 and 5 p.m. on Oct. 7.

IDENTITY THEFTS

• A Lincoln Avenue resident reported someone used their identity to fraudulently apply for unemployment insurance benefits on Oct. 11.
• A Birch Street resident reported someone used their identity between Oct. 14 and Oct. 16 to fraudulently take control of their Verizon account and make more than $1,000 in unauthorized purchases.
• An Elm Street resident reported that someone used their identity to fraudulently apply for unemployment insurance benefits on Oct. 11.
• A Forest Glen Drive North resident reported that someone used their identiy around 2 p.m. on Oct. 20 to fraudulently apply for unemployment insurance benefits.
• On Oct. 22, a Forest Glen Drive South resident reported that someone used their identity to apply for a loan from Chase Bank on Aug. 13.
• A Warwick Road resident reported on Oct. 23 that someone had used their identity to apply for unemployment insurance benefits on Oct. 11.
• A Plum Tree Lane resident reported on Oct. 23 that someone had used their identity between Oct. 11 and Oct. 20 to fraudulently apply for benefits from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
• A Garland Avenue resident reported on Oct. 25 that someone had used their identity to fraudulently apply for unemployment insurance benefits the previous day.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

A 23-year-old Northfield man was arrested around 8 p.m. on Oct. 22 and issued citations for improper lane usage and speeding between 25 and 34 mph above the limit.

A 20-year-old Chicago man was arrested around 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 23 in the 800 block of Sheridan Road and charged with driving with a suspended license. he was also issued citations for possession of cannabis and improper lane usage.

Earlier: Hit-And-Run Driver Strikes Squad Car, Escapes On Foot: New Trier Area Police Blotters, Oct. 8–Oct. 21

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