Police Blotter: Phony Employer, Purse Snatcher, Good Samaritans

Saturday, Dec. 11

Stolen purse

A woman shopping in Aldi, 15441 S. Cicero Ave., said she looked away for a minute, and when she turned around, her black Coach purse was gone. The purse contained $90 in cash, her license, credit cards and house and car keys.

Phony Employer

A woman was searching for at-home work when she contacted a potential employer by email. The employer responded to her, asking for her home address. The woman received a letter via U.S. Mail, with a check written to her, for $4,950. She was instructed to keep $250 of the money, and send a check for the difference to another address. She contacted the bank on the check, which informed her that the check was fraudulent and no such account exists. 

Cleaned Out Credit Union Account

Someone stole $16,550 from a woman's credit union savings account, she told police. The funds were stolen from Bell West Credit Union on Oct. 18; the woman discovered the funds missing on Nov. 6. The credit union told her that someone had transferred the money via wire in October. Staff confirmed the transfer through a signed letter. The telephone number on the account had also been changed two weeks prior to the transfer without her knowledge.

A Parked Party

Police noticed a car in the 15900 block of LeClaire Avenue that was packed with nine people, some of whom entered and left a nearby building continuously. The officer counted the people in the car, also noting cigarette smoke. He approached the car and asked the passengers to step out. He searched the vehicle, noting a bong and the scent of cannabis. The person on the registration denied ownership. He was taken into custody and the car was impounded.

Abandoned Bicycle

A resident reported a bicycle spotted in a retention pond, in the 5600 block of Albert Drive. The bike is at the police department.

Gullible Grandmother

A woman reported that on Dec. 8, a caller contacted her, alleging that her grandson had been arrested in Spain. The caller posed as her grandson and demanded that she transfer $2,800 over to a Western Union in Oak Forest. The woman transferred the money; the grandson later told her he was not in Spain, was not arrested, and knew nothing of the phone call.

Honest Abe

A woman found a nylon wallet containing $32. The wallet had no other contents, and had two sayings written on the front: "2/12/2010" and "4 ever and always." The wallet is currently at the police department.