An 80-year-old woman was struck in the head from behind and her vehicle stolen on the 300 block of Marengo on Nov. 17 at 5:37 p.m. She had parked her car in the garage, and as she exited, she was struck from behind. She attempted to get up and was hit again in the head.

The victim stated that the man who hit her and another man got into her car and drove away. Her purse, wallet and cell phone were in the car.

Last week, the Review reported on a 74-year-old woman struck by an unknown assailant from behind and her car stolen on the 600 block of Marengo on Nov. 15

Victims, exchanging cookies, robbed at gunpoint

Two former co-workers, meeting to exchange Girl Scout cookies and catch up, were the victims of an armed robbery on Nov. 20 at 7:23 p.m. at Forest Park National Bank, 7348 Madison St. Two men, one with a handgun, stole purses, wallets, cell phones, keys and other items from the victims before getting into their car and driving away. The incident was caught on bank camera. 

Man walking down street robbed at gunpoint

Officers were called when a man reported being robbed at gunpoint at Harlem Avenue and Franklin Street on Nov. 16 at 3:52 p.m. The victim said he was approached by a man who asked for money for the train. The victim replied that he had no money, when the offender struck him in the cheek with his fist. The offender then grabbed the victim’s backpack and ran. The victim pursued the offender, who turned around and displayed a handgun before getting into a vehicle, which fled the scene.

Attempted armed robbery at Wing Stop

Officers were dispatched to Wing Stop, 1215 Harlem Ave., for an armed robbery on Nov. 16 at 7:39 p.m. The victim, an employee of the restaurant, said she was at the front register when an unknown offender came in, displayed a handgun, pointed it at her and demanded money. She told him there is no cash in the register because the restaurant is currently only taking credit cards. The offender left the store and entered a car which drove away. The incident was captured on surveillance cameras.

Car, left running, stolen from gas station

A car was stolen from Thornton’s, 601 Harlem Ave., on Nov 16 at 12:41 a.m. when the owner went inside the store, leaving her vehicle running and the keys inside. She exited the store and discovered her car had been taken.

Shots fired on Harlem Avenue

Shots were fired at 700 Harlem Ave. on Nov. 16 at 9:10 p.m. near the I-290 expressway. Forest Park and Oak Park police were called, and traffic was stopped in order to investigate.

Police observed approximately seven bullet holes in the driver’s side of the victim’s car, but both occupants were not being fully cooperative and kept walking away from the vehicle, from which emanated the strong odor of pot.

One of the occupants provided only the detail that he ducked when he saw that the offenders were going to fire at him, but he couldn’t provide any information about the offenders or their car. He said he didn’t see them because he was ducking down. When asked how he knew to duck if he couldn’t see them, he became confrontational.

His mother showed up at the scene, and he walked away with her. When he returned, his story changed, and he was able to provide details about the vehicle and its occupants.

According to the police report, the victim said, “he had been shot at before in 2016 but has not had any problems since then due to going to prison.”

A background check revealed an “extensive history for narcotics.”

Officers located shell casings at the top of the Harlem Avenue and I-290 bridge.

Cat stolen

A woman reported her cat had been stolen from her apartment on the 200 block of Circle Avenue on Nov. 16 around or just after midnight. She said she had left her apartment to do laundry on the first floor of the building, and when she returned about 15 minutes later, her cat was gone. She told police she will contact the property manager to access camera and will post fliers in the building. Her cat, Lizzie, is gray with brown spots and approximately a year old.

Reckless drivers ticketed during funeral procession

Eighteen citations for reckless driving were issued to vehicles in a funeral procession on Nov. 17 between 2 and 2:40 p.m. on Desplaines Avenue. According to the police report, the cars were driving into oncoming traffic head-on, blocking traffic by cutting off other motorists in intersections, taking up multiple lanes, and had occupants hanging out of open windows, doors, roofs. They were also doing burnouts. As the police report states, those actions were taken “without regard to the public, their passengers or themselves, everyone in danger of being seriously injured.”

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, Nov. 16-22, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.

Compiled by Maria Maxham