Three expensive bicycles, worth thousands of dollars, were stolen from the garage of a professional bicycle repair person, overnight July 10, in the 200 block of Rockford. Someone stole a black and grey Trek Madon race bike worth $8,000, a Scott Speedster SI race bike worth $2,000 and a white mountain bike worth $3,000. The offender left five lesser-value bicycles in the garage untouched.
In 2011, Forest Park police reported a series of high-end bicycle thefts from garages and storage spaces. Police say a man, captured on videotape but never arrested, stole expensive 10-speed bicycles from nine storage units.
‘Then he disappeared,” said Detective Cmdr. Michael Keating in January.
Speeding motorcyclist lucky to be alive
A man on a motorcycle, clocked by police traveling at 59 mph at 8:30 a.m. on Madison Street, July 10, attempted to pass on the right a woman turning into a parking lot with a Jeep SUV. The biker, 22, from Cicero, struck the Jeep in the right front and was knocked off the motorcycle and thrown to the ground, according to witnesses. He was able to stand and speak when police arrived at the parking lot in the 7600 block of Madison. The biker was charged with reckless driving, speeding and improper lane changing. His 2004 black Suzuki motorcycle was impounded by Forest Park police.
Three women robbed by cyclist
A police officer was flagged down near Momfs Place in the 800 block of South Harlem Avenue by three women who told him they had just been robbed by a man on a bicycle around midnight on July 12. The women allegedly were walking to the CTA train stop when they were passed by a man on a bike who allegedly grabbed the handle of one womanfs purse and tried to ride away. The woman told police she swung the purse away, causing the cyclist to lose his balance. Allegedly, he then grabbed a grocery bag from another woman, who held onto it, causing it to burst open and spill its contents on the ground. The man reportedly disappeared around a corner, but circled back, blocked the sidewalk and stared at one womanfs purse which she held tightly. Then he allegedly ripped seven dollars out of her hand and slapped her face. He fled into an alley as they spotted the squad car.
Police questioned a suspect, whom they had interviewed a few hours prior for another robbery, and who lived a block away. The women were transported to the 24-year-old manfs house where they identified him, even though he was wearing different clothes. Neighbors told police they saw him enter the home shortly before.
The man was charged with one count of robbery and one count of aggravated battery.
Two women had previously reported being robbed by an unknown cyclist on July 5 around 1 a.m. near the 1000 block of Circle Ave.
Car hits tree at 5 a.m.
A man, whom police said was intoxicated, hit a tree in the 400 block of Circle with his white 2008 Saturn around 5:20 a.m. on July 12. The vehicle sustained significant damage, as did the tree, according to reports. An open bottle of Stella Artois beer was recovered from his car. The 32-year-old from Elmwood Park failed field sobriety tests and blew a .17 blood-alcohol content on the breathalyzer, over twice the legal limit. He was arrested for DUI damage to property, driving without insurance and other traffic violations.
Lawnmower stolen
A garage in the 800 block of Elgin was burglarized, overnight on July 9. A Craftsman lawnmower valued at $300 was stolen.@
These items, obtained from the records of the Forest Park Police Department, July 9-15, represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anyone named in the report has only been charged with a crime.
-Compiled by Jean Lotus
