By Emma Wozniak
Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- With these burglary reports, we indicate the street where the incidents were reported. This past July saw only five reported burglaries in the Village. While the number is low, we certainly understand that one is too many, especially for those who were violated.
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Persons wishing to leave anonymous information on any criminal matters including narcotics or gang activity are encouraged to call the Park Forest Police DepartmentInvestigations Division at (708) 748-1309.
eNews Park Forest reports this information because the public in the United States has the right to know. When that information is withheld or under-reported, it leaves questions. We also want to show the work that the police force does every day that is not reported. Police in Park Forest respond to thousands of calls per year, the vast majority of which do not end up with arrests or the need for police to write formal reports. Whether it’s conducting a routine investigation, pulling over a drunk driver, or responding to a possible theft at a store, the work of the police officer deserves acknowledgment by the public.
7/5/19 8:07: Theft of Lawnmower – Orchard Drive
On July 5 at 8:07 AM officers responded to the 300 block of Orchard Drive in reference to a theft complaint. Upon arrival to the scene, officers spoke with a man who related that sometime over the previous three weeks his lawnmower had been taken from his detached garage.
Officers spoke to the man’s sister who had been the one to alert the lawnmower owner that it was missing. Officers observed the detached garage and noticed that nothing appeared to have been disturbed.
7/20/19 14:59: Premise Exam on Shabbona Drive – Appliance Theft
On July 20 at approximately 2:59 PM officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of Shabbona Drive to conduct a premise exam. Officers had been made aware that detectives from nearby agencies obtained information that the residence had possibly been burglarized earlier that day.
PFPD officers met with a detective from Crete, a detective from South Chicago heights, and a detective from Homewood. Officers learned that South Chicago heights police arrested two men on July 20 in relation to several burglaries in surrounding towns. South Chicago Heights officers learned that a home in the 200 block of Shabbona Drive may have been burglarized by the two men.
Officers conducted a premise exam and observed the east-facing door of the residence had signs of forced entry. A few places in the residence had exposed piping as if an appliance had been removed from those locations. Officers conducted a canvass and gained access to a ring doorbell that showed a maroon SUV pulling a trailer driving east on Shabbona Drive.
7/22/19 16:28: Residential Burglary on New Salem Street
On July 22 at 4:28 PM officers were dispatched to the 300 block of New Salem Street in reference to a residential burglary. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the residence’s owner who related that he had secured his house before leaving for work.
When he returned home, he noticed his small 22” black Toshiba flat-screen television missing from his kitchen.
The man began to look around his residence and noticed his black Dell laptop was also missing and that his one of his basement windows had been broken into and was in an open position.
Officers observed that the southeast basement windowpane was broken, and the window was in an open position. Officers processed the scene and found nothing of evidentiary value. A canvas was conducted with negative results. There is no suspect information at this time.
7/29/19 8:03: Burglary from Motor Vehicle on Western Ave.
On July 29 at 8:03 AM officers were dispatched to the 3000 block of Western Avenue in reference to a burglary from a motor vehicle. Officers spoke to the vehicle’s owner who related that when she was leaving to go to work, she observed that an unknown subject had entered her unlocked vehicle and taken items without her permission.
Officers observed the vehicle which exhibited no signs of forced entry and the interior was in a tidy condition. Missing from the armrest console was approximately $30.00 in cash and a set of Samsung headphones. Officers processed the driver’s side door and were able to recover one latent fingerprint. Nothing of further evidentiary value was recovered.
The vehicle’s owner stated that she would be willing to sign complaints if an arrest was made. There is no suspect information at this time.
7/29/19 13:41: Delayed Burglary Report on Park Street
On July 29 at approximately 1:41 PM officers responded to the first block of Park Street to investigate a delayed burglary report. Upon arrival, officers spoke to the man who contacted the police. The man related that he had been notified by his superior that a burglary had occurred and that he was to call the police and make a report.
Officers requested a worker with keys to the building to be brought to the scene and another man arrived to speak with the police. The man related that when he was cleaning, he realized approximately twenty football helmets were missing from a shelf. When he was leaving he realized the door jamb was damaged. The helmets are described as being white with a green facemask and are valued at approximately $1000 to $2000. The man stated he would be willing to sign criminal complaints if a suspect is located.
Officers photographed and processed the scene, however, nothing of evidentiary value was observed or collected. There is currently no suspect information.
