The Circle Inn Tavern, 7300 Circle Ave., was burglarized recently and it appears the culprit made off with an undisclosed sum of cash, according to a police report.

An employee at the tavern reported the crime shortly after 5:30 a.m. on Oct. 27 after discovering the register had been cleaned out. Also, a side entrance to the building had been pried open and a rear window that is usually closed was left open.

The employee discovered the evidence of the alleged crime as they prepared the tavern for business. However, police said that in the course of the individual’s preparations for the work day, much of the evidence had been tainted.

Roadways reserved for motorists

A handful of pedestrians were cited for violating a local ordinance after police found them walking in the street, rather than using the village’s sidewalks.

At about 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 23, police observed more than a dozen juveniles loitering in the 800 block of Beloit Avenue, several of whom wandered into the road and began dancing. Several of the youths immediately left the area when police approached the group, but at least two were taken to the police station, according to a redacted department report.

Shortly after 6 p.m. on Oct. 28, a 19-year-old male was picked up for “walking in the middle of the street” when police found a group of five young men in the road near the junction of Franklin and Elgin streets. When authorities approached the group to explain the violation, one of the individuals “began to laugh and roll his eyes,” according to a police report.

That individual, whose name was not released by police, was cited for walking in the street. Others in the group were let off with a warning.

Hefty fines for hefty trucks

Authorities cited two truck drivers for more than $4,000 in fines earlier this month for allegedly driving their vehicles with too heavy a load.

On Oct. 22 at 10:30 a.m., Michael D. Flood, 20, of North Aurora, was stopped as he pulled his garbage truck off Interstate 290 onto 1st Avenue. Noticing several signs that the vehicle may be over its legal load limit, including “egged” tires, police pulled the driver over.

Using a portable scale system police weighed the truck and found it was at least 7,400 pounds over its allowable weight. The ticket, fees and surcharges totaled more than $1,500.

Several hours later on that same day, police stopped Marcos A. Navarro, 31, of Chicago in the same location. Navarro allegedly told police he knew the sewer truck he was driving was overweight, but “because he was doing work on the sewers in Melrose Park, he thought it would be OK,” according to a police report.

The truck was found to be 13,550 pounds overweight on one axle and 7,750 pounds over its gross weight. Navarro received a ticket for more than $2,700 in fines.

Teens suspected of liquor grab

Two unidentified suspects, believed to be teenagers, made off with an armful of liquor after asking a store clerk to show them the more expensive brands that are kept under lock and key. The alleged heist occurred shortly after noon on Oct. 25 at Famous Liquors at 7714 Madison St.

According to a police report, the manager of the store was asked by the suspects to view several bottles of Remy Martin cognac and Hennesey cognac, valued at $40 to $50 per bottle. Once there were several bottles on the counter, the teens grabbed some $200 worth of liquor and ran out of the store, according to a police report.

Witnesses to the heist reported seeing the suspects flee to the 7700 block of Madison Street where they got into a waiting Chevrolet parked at a nearby apartment complex. If caught, the suspects would likely face charges for retail theft.

Stereo deemed too loud

A Forest Park teenager, 19-year-old Kenny Diaz, was cited for violating a local noise ordinance when police stopped Diaz’s car along the 800 block of Beloit Avenue. Shortly before 7 p.m. on Oct. 23, officers allegedly heard the car’s stereo from a block away, in violation of an ordinance that dictates car stereos should not be audible from more than 50 feet away.

Tandem purse snatching

A woman walking south along the 100 block of Circle Avenue had her purse stolen off her shoulder, according to a police report, shortly after 7 p.m. on Oct. 24. Two men approached the woman from behind and one grabbed two shopping bags from the woman’s hands while the other made a bid for her purse, according to police. Several credit cards and a small amount of cash were among the items reported stolen. No suspects were arrested in the case.

These items were taken from the records of the Forest Park Police Department between Oct. 14 and Oct. 27, 2007, and represent only a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in this report has only been charged with a crime. The cases have not been adjudicated.

– Compiled by Josh Adams