Man Arrested for Lombard Shoplifting Linked to La Grange Park Incident

Man Accused of Shoplifting

A Schaumburg man accused of stealing $698 worth of over-the-counter medicine on April 27 at the Jewel-Osco in La Grange Park was arrested two days later by Lombard police, who said he tried to steal $1,100 worth of medications at  a Jewel-Osco store in their village.

Frank C. Evans, 37, who lives in an apartment on the 1700 block of Birch Boulevard was charged with retail theft in La Grange Park and felony retail theft in Lombard. He also was being held in DuPage County jail on an outstanding warrant, according to Lombard police

Interviewed in jail, Evans told La Grange Park police that he has a heroin addiction and steals the medications to pay for his addiction. Police said he told them he goes to Chicago and sells the medication for $5 per box.

A loss prevention officer for Jewel-Osco, 507 E. Woodlawn, in La Grange Park, told police a man, later identified as Evans, picked up bread and milk at about 11:51 p.m., then went to the medication aisle and put boxes of over-the-counter medicine in his pants.

He went to the cashier and paid for the bread and milk but activated a sensor alarm as he tried to leave the store. The store was closed and the doors were locked, so an employee let him out, unaware he was concealing the medications, according to police. The suspect was described as wearing a gray T-shirt and dark baseball cap, jacket and athletic pants.        

The loss prevention officer at the Lombard Jewel-Osco notified the La Grange Park store that Lombard police had arrested a man matching that description on Sunday night in the earlier shoplifting incident when he tried to leave the Lombard store without paying for $1,100 worth of medications.

La Grange Man ‘Turns Down Million’

A La Grange man reported on May 3 that he received a message on his home phone that he won $1 million and should call a number with an 876 area code. He did not call that number and La Grange police recommended that he not as well, because of a likely scam.

Vandalism with Ketchup, Eggs

A resident of the 700 block of south Brainard Avenue who is moving out told police on May 5 that someone put ketchup all over the front of the house. La Grange police were to keep a special watch on the house until May 7, when a new resident moves in.

The porch of a home on the 800 block of Seventh Avenue was egged during the night, La Grange police learned May 5.

Kid Complaints

An anonymous caller told La Grange police May 6 that kids hang out every night in the park at Seventh Avenue School, 701 S. Seventh Ave., and broken bottles are all over the place. Police advised the caller to call them when seeing kids there after dark or breaking bottles.

Five kids who were hanging out by Seventh Avenue School, 701 S. Seventh Ave., were sent on their way by La Grange police at about 9:32 p.m. May 5.

Police were called to Elm Park, at Elm and Brainard avenues, at about 8:29 p.m. May 4 for a report of 20-30 kids there, possibly drinking. Officers sent away 20 kids but said no drinking was seen.

Identity Stolen

A La Grange woman reported May 5 that someone stole her Social Security number and tried to open a bank account in Minnesota. No loss was reported.

Medical Supplies Dumped

Someone threw a bag of medical supplies out of a vehicle on Ogden Avenue east of La Grange Road, La Grange police learned at about 9:03 a.m. May 3. A police officer disposed of the bag.

Hit-and-Run Reported

A car parked on Leitch Avenue near 47th Street was struck between 4:30 and 8:30 p.m. May 5 by another vehicle that left a white paint transfer, La Grange police learned May 6. The victim already brought the car to a body shop to repair the damage.

Two Crashes at Same Intersection

An 18-year-old Countryside woman was ticketed for failure to yield while turning left after La Grange police said the 2009 Honda Civic she was driving west on 47th Street turned left on Brainard Avenue and collided with a Countryside man’s eastbound vehicle at about 3:14 p.m. May 1.

Both drivers were ticketed after a crash at about 3:16 p.m. on May 4 at 47th Street and Brainard Avenue with a westbound vehicle trying to turn south and colliding with an eastbound vehicle. One driver from Countryside was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Ethel Wright of Summit was ticketed for driving while her license is suspended.

Three Vehicles Collide, But Driver Leaves

No tickets were issued after a three-car rear-end collision at Ogden Avenue and La Grange Road at about 4:35 p.m. May 4. A Naperville man reported his 2006 Lexus was rear-ended by a 2004 Chevrolet driven by a Riverside man, causing it to hit a third vehicle. That third vehicle left the scene.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity in our towns, using information provided by official agencies. Persons charged with a crime, or issued a citation for violation of a local ordinance, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you or a family member are charged with a crime or cited for a violation, and the charge or citation is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor of this Patch site, matthew@patch.com, and we will do follow-up reporting on the case.