Man robbed walking near Blue Line terminal
A 30-year-old Forest Park man called police on Oct. 25 to report that between 8:15 and 8:25 p.m., he was robbed by two men who attacked him from behind while he was walking southbound on Desplaines Avenue approaching Van Buren Street near the CTA Blue Line terminal.
The victim stated he was wearing headphones at the time of the attack. Two subjects approached from behind and punched him in the head and neck area, causing him to fall to the ground. The offenders took the Samsung Galaxy S7 cellphone the victim was carrying and fled eastbound up the grass hill to the south of the Cook County Health Department building.
About 8:50 p.m., police returned to the Desplaines Avenue Blue Line terminal after a woman called to say her 18-year-old son had been approached by a man who pushed the barrel of a gun into his back and asked, “What gang are you in?”
The offender was described as a black male with dreadlocks and wearing a black jacket. The incident happened on the north side of the terminal.
The victim ran home where he reported the incident to his mom, who called police, but they could not locate the offender. A witness told police that two men were hanging around the north side of the terminal. At one point, one of the subjects lifted up his shirt to reveal what looked to be a gun handle protruding from his waistband.
Vehicle break-ins
A 52-year-old woman called Forest Park police on Oct. 26 about 7:40 p.m. to report that her 1999 Buick, parked outside Ultra Foods, 7520 Roosevelt Road, had been burglarized.
The victim said she’d parked and locked the vehicle around 4 p.m. When she returned to it, she noticed the door handle had been damaged and papers were strewn around inside. Her wallet was reported missing.
Surveillance camera video showed two men walk up to the vehicle about 5:40 p.m., gain access to the driver’s side door and also the trunk. The two men then entered a white SUV, which pulled up alongside and left the area westbound.
A resident of the 7300 block of Circle Avenue called police to report that overnight on Oct. 28-29 someone entered her unlocked vehicle and removed a Chase debit card and a Bank of America debit card, both of which were inactive, from the center console.
Other items from the glove compartment were found on the front passenger seat.
Forest Park police responded to the 500 block of Beloit Avenue on Oct. 28 after a 52-year-old man called to report that someone had attempted to gain entry to his vehicle, which was parked on the street.
Police observed several pry marks along the window frame of the front passenger side door, and the window was partially removed from the frame. However, no entry was gained.
Police responded to Myha Inc., 7621 Roosevelt Road, after a 27-year-old woman called to report that a white Chevy work van parked in the rear of the location had been burglarized a little after midnight on Oct. 25.
Surveillance camera video reportedly showed two offenders approach the vehicle. One popped the front passenger door lock to gain entry and the two then took numerous items out of the van and placed them into a dark-colored SUV before leaving the scene.
Among the items reported missing were a 10-inch miter saw and a DeWalt drill set.
Van stolen from parking lot
A 57-year-old man called Forest Park police on Oct. 27 to report that a silver 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan, which he’d parked in the lot at 7711 Roosevelt Road, had been stolen sometime between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Directly next to the spot where the van had been parked, police observed a red 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan with its driver’s side window broken out and its steering column peeled.
According to the report, police believe the 1999 was stolen in Chicago and abandoned in Forest Park, where the same offenders stole the 2003 van.
Cashier charged with theft
A 20-year-old Chicago woman, who worked as a cashier at Walmart, 1300 Desplaines Ave., was charged with theft after reportedly taking $500 from the cash register over the course of three shifts between Oct. 14 and 22.
The woman reportedly said she took the money because she was close to being evicted from her apartment.
These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, Oct. 24-30, 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 Bob Uphues
