Third Suspicious White Van Reported in 5 Days in La Grange

La Grange police received a third call in five days of a white van that a caller thought might be the vehicle involved in an attempt to lure a 4-year-old boy inside by offering him candy.

A white van that did not have windows on the sides, and that a caller thought matched the vehicle in the Sept. 11 incident, was reported parked in front of a home on the 100 block of south Madison Avenue at about 7:16 p.m. Sept. 16.  A “scruffy” man driving the van drove down the block, looked at kids playing outside, parked and walked north, police were told. Police could not locate the man.

On Sept. 11, two women in a white van offered Gummi Bears candy to come into their van at 52nd Street and Seventh Avenue. Suspicious vans also were reported Sept. 12 at Seventh Avenue School and Sept 14 driving slowly on the 1000 block of Waiola Avenue. Neither vehicle was connected to the incident with the child, police said.

Suspicious Passer-by

A resident on the 700 block of south Kensington Avenue reported seeing a young man wearing a blue sweatshirt in her driveway at about 2:42 a.m. Sept. 19. A police officer said the resident’s house and cars were secure.

Don’t Look Out the Window

A resident of the 1100 block of south Brainard Avenue reported that when he looked out the window at about 9:55 p.m. Sept. 16, three boys made an obscene gesture. They took off northbound. Two were dressed in all black. They were gone when police arrived.

Boy’s iPod Returned

A student at the Lyons Township High School north campus, 100 S. Brainard Ave., told police Sept. 16 that his iPod was stolen at the school. Police used a global positioning system device on the iPod to trace it to an Indian Head Park address. The boy there told police he found the iPod in the locker area and was going to return it Monday.

Blood Found Outside Home

Responding to a burglar alarm on the 700 block of south Madison Avenue, police found an unlocked front door and fresh blood at the home. A neighbor watching the home said the blood was there that morning, but the cause is unknown to police.

Intoxicated Woman

An intoxicated 48-year-old woman was found at the entrance of the former Rich Port YMCA, 31 E. Ogden Ave., at about 10:47 p.m. Sept. 17, police said. She told police she would arrange to be picked up.  

Outside the Borders

A 31-year-old man on the 1200 block of Spring Avenue was found beaten up and impaired at about 10:54 p.m. Sept 17, La Grange police said. He said he was beaten up in Countryside, whose police took over the case.

A person driving in front of 4735 S. Gilbert Ave. told La Grange police that six youths threw rocks at the car and then ran across the street on the Willow Springs side near a cleaners and bagel shop at about 7:48 p.m. Sept. 17. No permanent damage was reported to the car. A La Grange police officer found pieces of bagels all over the ground and surmised that was what was thrown at the vehicle.

Can’t Reach Police

A resident of the 0-100 block of south Spring Avenue reported hearing “extremely loud music” until 10:30 p.m. Sept. 16 from the West End festival, tried to call the police non-emergency number but got a message  that, “an operator is not available.”  The resident was advised to call 9-1-1 if a similar situation happens in not being able to reach police.  La Grange police said the day shift will look into the problem.

Dumping Animal?

A man in a silver Hyundai was seen at about 2:51 p.m. Sept. 16 exiting the vehicle and letting an animal out of a cage near 51st Street and Brainard Avenue.  Police could not locate the vehicle or animal.

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