Blotter: Elderly Residents Scammed, Helpful Citizens and More

Scam gets $500

Elderly residents of the 1200 block of Ostrander were victims of a gypsy scam that occurred at about 2 p.m. Feb. 15 and resulted in the loss of approximately $500. These types of incidents involve one person diverting the attention of a resident while an accomplice steals valuables and/or cash, La Grange Park police said.

Questions About Home Suspicious

A daughter told La Grange police that a woman was asking suspicious questions Feb. 16 about her mother’s home for sale on Edgewood Lane and certain items she said she saw online that were for sale. The woman had long dark hair, was in her 20s or 30s and was driving a dark red van. She had stopped by the home between 2:30 and 3 p.m. and was asking questions of the mother, in her 80s. Police will be called if she shows up again.

Van Suspicious

A dark van with three people inside, one possibly with a flashlight, was reported parked on the 400 block of Blackstone at about 7:07 p.m. Feb. 17. The vehicle was gone when La Grange police arrived.    

Man Looks Into Garage

A resident of the 600 block of Ninth Avenue said a neighbor saw a man looking into her garage windows at about 8:17 a.m. Feb. 18. The man wore a khaki-colored jacket and black pants. No forced entry had been made into the garage.

Passers-by Help Woman

Responding to a report at about 8 p.m. Feb. 17 of a car alarm going off and a possibly intoxicated woman at 1301 W. Cossitt Ave. near LADSE, La Grange police instead found a woman with a torn ACL who had fallen and whose brace fell off. Others nearby were trying to help her get the brace back on.

Locked Bicycle Stolen

A BMX bicycle that had been locked up at a building on the 0-100 block of north Ashland Avenue was reported stolen at about 3:06 p.m. Feb. 20.

Trash Container on Fire

The La Grange Fire Department responded to a trash container on fire behind Q BBQ, 70 S. La Grange Road, at about 11:21 a.m. Feb. 16. Police redirected traffic.

Girl Punched at LT

A girl told La Grange police Feb. 17 that she had been punched in the face several times the previous day at Lyons Township High School North Campus, 100 S. Brainard Ave. She already got medical attention.

Girl Hit on Bus

A teenage girl from La Grange Park told La Grange police at about 3:06 p.m. Feb,. 16 that she was battered on a bus on the 200 block of Sawyer Avenue by a 15-year-old La Grange girl. An ambulance checked the victim. No more information was available Feb. 21.

Activity at Parking Garage

A man was reported on the top floor of the village parking garage, 80 S. Sixth Ave., at about 1 p.m. Feb. 20 looking into vehicles and plugging his computer into outlets. Youths also were seen on the stairwell between the second and third floors throwing soda around. None were found by police.

A large group of kids was seen loitering near the elevator of the parking garage at about 5:57 p.m. Feb. 19. Police sent them on their way.

A group of kids was seen climbing up from La Grange Village Hall on the La Grange Road side near the “Village Hall” sign at about 7:04 p.m. Feb. 19. That area and the parking garage were clear when police arrived.

More youths were reported on the top deck of the parking garage at about 10:30 p.m. Feb. 17.

More Noisy Kids

A large group of kids was reported causing a disturbance in front of a business on the 0-100 block of south La Grange Road at about 5:34 p.m. Feb. 17. La Grange police also sent two other groups of kids on their way.   

A boy reported that five or six youths were cussing at him at 48th Street and Spring Avenue at about 5:18 p.m. Feb. 16. One was wearing an orange jacket. Police could not find the youths then, or when the boy spotted them again.

Water Main Breaks

La Grange Public Works responded to a report of a water main break on Madison Avenue at Hillgrove Avenue at about 1:40 p.m. Feb. 20.

Youth Mischief

Multiple incidents of graffiti were found spray painted on garages, cars, fences and doors along the alley between 30th and 31st streets and from Harrison to the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad on Feb. 15. None of the graffiti was gang- related and some was able to be removed before permanent damage could occur, La Grange Park police said.

Male Smoking ‘Marijuana’

A man wearing a black shirt and grey hoodie and possibly smoking marijuana from a pipe along with a female in plaid coat were seen at Blackstone and Maple avenues at about 7:45 a.m. Feb. 16.

Graffiti on Park Sign

Graffiti was seen on the sign at Stone Park at about 1:32 p.m. Feb. 19.

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.