Last week two subjects burglarized a Brookfield bar and someone attempted to break into a second bar across the street, police reported.
In the span of just two minutes, the men pried open the rear door to Cheers Sports Bar and Grill, 8901 Burlington Ave., broke into video poker machines and the cash register before hauling away a safe from the manager’s office.
According to the police report, surveillance video recovered from the bar showed two men wearing gloves and hooded sweatshirts entering through a rear door at 2:41 a.m. One of the men went directly to the video poker machines on the west side of the business while the other pulled out the cash register drawer and then threw the register to the ground.
Then while one man kept watch on the back door, the other went into the office and removed a safe before both exited through the back door at 2:43 a.m.
Meanwhile, someone apparently attempted to break in to Irish Times, 8869 Burlington Ave., which is across the street from Cheers, the previous night. The business’ alarm company notified police at 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 1 that the alarm had been activated.
When police arrived, they found all doors secure. The next day, after the Cheers burglary, police returned to Irish Times and noted pry marks around the deadbolt mechanism and the rear door frame. About eight months ago there had been an attempt to pry open the rear door, according to police.
Identity theft
A 71-year-old North Riverside woman said she’s contacting police in California after someone apparently stole her identity to receive a tax refund check from the Internal Revenue Service earlier this year.
The woman contacted North Riverside police on Nov. 1 to file a report for identity theft. She told police she filed a federal tax return early in 2010 and enclosed a check for $1,084 for taxes she owed the federal government.
In February, the IRS contacted the woman and told her they received a second tax return from her and that they had deposited $2,266 into a California bank based on that return.
An employee at the California bank said he couldn’t locate the account number for the bank account into which the money was deposited.
The woman has notified credit bureaus of the identity theft, but said she’s also contacting police in the town where the IRS sent the refund check. Police said the woman is concerned because the IRS continues to send her billing statements referencing the improperly deposited funds into an account bearing her name.
Account canceled after money stolen
A 47-year-old Lyons man reported to Brookfield police that $800 was missing from his bank account after the money was withdrawn at an ATM at a store on Ogden Avenue in Brookfield on Nov. 6.
The man told police he received a call from his bank after the money was withdrawn. The man told police he had just one debit card account and no one else is authorized to use it. Surveillance video showed a man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and blue shorts approaching the ATM just before the withdrawal was made, police said. The bank account was canceled after the transaction was made.
Felony DUI
Riverside police charged Summit resident Diego Urquizo, 22, with felony driving under the influence after an officer reported him driving a 1999 Ford Mustang 50 mph in a 35 mph zone while southbound on Harlem Avenue from Longcommon Road at 3 a.m. on Nov. 7.
According to the police report, Urquizo swerved over the center line several times before being pulled over by an officer. Urquizo’s blood-alcohol level was reportedly .20, which is more than twice the legal limit of .08.
The Cook County State’s Attorney approved felony charges since Urquizo has never had a driver’s license.
Concealed carry candy
Police continue to try and contact a 78-year-old woman from the village after an employee at Tischler’s grocery store, 9118 Broadway Ave., called to report her shoplifting items.
The employee reportedly confronted the woman outside the store. When she said she hadn’t stolen anything, the employee pointed to candy bars sticking out of her jacket pocket.
When she started walking away, the employee told the woman he was calling police, whereupon the woman reportedly said she was sorry and handed him a Rollo and two Take Five candy bars. The woman then got into her car and left the scene.
The employee told police that all he wants is for the woman not to return to the store.
These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments from Nov. 1 to Nov. 7 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.
– Compiled by Bob Uphues
