Police were dispatched July 8 to 500 Circle Avenue for a report of criminal damage to Forest Park’s American Legion. As American Legion Post 414 prepares for closure, members are clearing out the building for future buyers, according to the police report. While someone was in the process of removing items from the building, he noticed the glass pane in the front door was shattered, officials said. This is not the first time something like this has happened, as earlier this year, the American Legion’s front door was shattered with a BB gun. There was no sign of entry and no items stolen, according to the police report. The estimated cost of repair is $700. 

Burglary 

  • A woman who lives in the 1000 block of Des Plaines Avenue called police July 8 to report a residential burglary. She told police that she left her house around 5 a.m. and, when she returned just after noon, she put her key in the door and it opened immediately, though she was sure she locked it. Her home was ransacked. Stolen items included a TV, laptop, virtual reality set, Maltese puppy, shoes and jewelry, estimated at a total of over $15,000. 
  • Police were dispatched July 10 to the 500 block of Ferdinand Avenue for a report of a garage burglary. A woman who said she uses her landlord’s garage to store her vehicle told police that she was out of town June 19 through 27, and the burglary happened over that period. When she returned, she noticed that the convertible cover for the top of her car was cut, and her landlord’s bike was missing. She said the garage was left open, but no other items were taken. She doesn’t wish to sign complaints if the offender is found. 
  • Police responded to the 800 block of Dunlop Avenue July 10 when a man called to say an unknown subject was inside his parked car. When officers arrived, the subject fled after ransacking the car and stealing over $14 in loose change. Police surveyed the area and identified the offender, who said he was looking for a cigarette in the man’s car. He also had a warrant for his arrest out of DuPage County and was arrested for that charge, as well as burglary from a motor vehicle.

Robbery

On July 11, police were dispatched to 1300 Des Plaines Avenue for a robbery at Walmart. Staff reported they noticed a man placing merchandise in Walmart bags inside the store. When loss prevention staff addressed him about it, the man tried to leave the store. When the employee followed him into the parking lot and attempted to stop him, the man began wrestling with the employee. The man came back inside the store, where he threatened employees and was handcuffed before police said they arrested him.

Patrons in bar after hours

While police were on patrol July 13, they noticed patrons at 101 Circle Avenue past hours. About a dozen patrons sat at Beacon Pub drinking at 1:10 a.m., 10 minutes past the bar’s closure, and the door was locked, according to the police report. When the bartender let police in, officers issued her a local ordinance citation. 

These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated July 8 through July 13 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.