Alleged shoplifter is a missing juvenile
Police arrived at Walmart, 1300 Desplaines Ave. around 7:45 p.m., Dec. 16, to assist security guards who had stopped a 14-year-old Chicago girl from removing merchandise from the store. A loss-prevention officer told police the girl was seen on surveillance cameras approaching displays and loading up a cart with $388.15 worth of merchandise before walking past the last point of purchase and attempting to exit the store. When she was stopped by security, she allegedly fought and struck the Walmart officers as they handcuffed her. When Forest Park police arrived, she reportedly began to yell and struggle and refused to enter the squad car. She was eventually transported to the Forest Park Police Department, where she reportedly gave several false names and dates of birth. When her identity was established, she was determined to be on a missing juvenile list from Chicago. She was charged with theft and battery and petitioned to juvenile court. Police released her to the custody of her mother around 1 a.m.
Grinch attack
A package containing $100 worth of Banana Republic clothing was removed from the porch of a house in the 7600 block of Harrison Street sometime between Dec. 16 and 17.
Smash-and-grab near Golden Steer
A couple told police they parked their 2013 Ford F150XLT truck near the restaurant at 7635 Roosevelt Road around 1:30 p.m. Dec. 17 and entered the nearby music shop for about half an hour. When they returned to the vehicle, they found a back passenger side window smashed. Someone had removed a black Vera Wang purse from the back seat. Loss included credit cards, ID a social security card, a green card and $20.
Walmart coat upgrade
Walmart security officials summoned police after they observed a 33-year-old man from Cicero behaving suspiciously in the men’s department. According to security agents, the man removed his jacket, which staff described as “black and old,” and dropped it on the floor. He then removed a gray jacket for sale on the rack and tried it on. Staff said they observed him remove the sale tags from the jacket and drop them to the floor. He then walked past the cashiers and exited the store without paying. Forest Park police recovered the jacket and a Hoover vacuum belt from the suspect. Total loss was $38.85. Walmart staff recovered his old jacket and returned it to him. He told police he was shopping with his grandfather and said he was waiting in line to pay when he had to hurry to pick up his son. He told police he gave tags and money to his grandfather to pay and left the store. He was found to have a previous conviction for burglary and the assistant State’s Attorney approved felony retail theft charges.
Erratic driving results in pot arrest
Police said they observed a silver 2000 Chevy Camaro traveling westbound on Harrison at Thomas Avenue around 4:15 p.m. on Dec. 18. The driver signaled that he was turning right, which would have caused entry to the walking path on the park district property. He then signaled he was turning left, which would have been going against traffic as Thomas is one-way northbound. The 19-year-old Bellwood man then continued on Harrison until police curbed the car. Police said the vehicle emitted a strong odor of burnt cannabis. The driver and his 19-year-old passenger, according to police, voluntarily admitted smoking “weed,” which the driver said was purchased in Maywood on 10th Avenue. Police recovered a Chase bank envelope containing an unreported amount of green leafy substance that tested positive for cannabis. The driver was given a local ordinance citation for possession of pot.
Catalytic converter theft thwarted
A man in the 600 block of Thomas Avenue told police he was looking out the window of his house around 5 p.m., Dec. 18, when he observed two men in a white sedan parked across the street. He said one man exited the car and ran over to a parked 2002 Jeep Cherokee and used a small power saw to try to remove the catalytic converter from under the back of the Jeep. The witness told police he ran out of the house yelling, “What are you doing?” and the man jumped back in the sedan and both fled. The converter sustained a saw mark, but seemed functional, police reported. No loss was reported.
A woman in the 500 block of Thomas Avenue told police her catalytic converter was removed, Dec. 18, from her 1997 Toyota 4-Runner which had been parked in front of her house. When she started her vehicle around 6:15 p.m., it made a loud engine noise. Loss was estimated at $650.
These items were obtained from the records of the Forest Park Police Department, Dec. 15-19, and 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.
