Police Blotter: Stolen Boy Scout Bucks, Mailbox on Fire, Hit and Ditch

Sunday, Feb. 13

Pot with Accused's Name Written on It

Police found Jeff Janik, 26, of the 15100 block of Ridgeland Avenue in Oak Forest, with a bag of pot with his name written all over it — literally. Police were responding to a call of possible shots fired when they spotted a lone car in the area. The officer followed the vehicle, observed the driver dropping off a passenger and, thinking the driver could be involved with the shots fired call, pulled him over, according to police. It became clear the driver was not involved in the shots fired call, but that the officer could smell cannabis, police said. The officer found a bag with a green leafy substance and a digital scale inside the car, in addition to a plastic bag with the suspect's name on it in the trunk. Janik was processed for possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, and no valid proof of insurance.

What Did the Stuffed Animal Ever Do to You?

A friendship gone bad led a teen-age boy to shove a stuffed animal and letters exchanged with a girl into her mailbox and set it ablaze, according to police reports. The teen admitted to placing the toy and notes inside the mailbox and starting the fire. He was cited for criminal damage to property. His parents agreed to replace the mailbox.

Hit and Ditch

The evening of Feb. 1, a resident called police to his home after he witnessed a driver hit his mailbox and leave the scene. The resident had a brief conversation with the driver before he left. He also noted the license plate number for police. Later that evening, police received calls of a car in a ditch near 163rd and Long Avenue. The car was empty when officers arrived. The license plate matched. On Saturday, Feb. 12, David Field, 44, of the 8000 block of Stonegate Drive in Tinley Park, turned himself in to Oak Forest Police. He was cited with driving too fast for conditions, failure to leave information after striking unattended property, criminal damage to property and no insurance.

Hubcap Heists

• A man told police that on Feb. 11, someone stole four wheel caps valued at $154 from his Chevy Trailblazer, parked at the Jewel-Osco in the 5600 block of 159th Street.
• Another man told police someone stole all four wheel caps valued at $200 from his 2008 Lincoln MKZ.
• On Feb. 11, a man told police that someone removed four chrome hubcaps valued at $500 from his 2007 Ford pickup truck, while it was parked at the Metra lot, 15900 Oak Avenue.

Stolen Boy Scout Bucks

Someone used money from a local Boy Scout troop for $1,400 in Saudi Airlines fare, according to police. The treasurer discovered the money missing from the troop's account in a recent bank statement from MB Financial bank.

Police Blotter information is provided by law enforcement agencies. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.