Berwyn cops bust burglars in Brookfield break-in
Two alleged burglars from Bellwood were arrested by Berwyn police after admitting to a residential burglary in Brookfield, according to a police report. Francisco Diaz Jr. and Refugio Gonzales were each charged with one count of burglary after confessing to breaking into a residence on the 3800 block of Forest Avenue in Brookfield. Residents of the home allege that Diaz and Gonzales broke into the home by cutting a 27-inch by 18-inch opening near the garage.
“The opening was presumably where the suspect entered the residence as drywall remnants and construction debris were observed both in the garage and on the living room floor,” according to the report.
The burglars made off with two guitars, two flat-screen TVs, a desktop computer and printer, an Xbox 360, two flutes, one oboe, one clarinet and a camcorder, according to police. The report notes that Berwyn police apprehended the two suspects attempting to pawn the stolen items at Melrose Cash Express Pawners in early November.
“Refugio related they drove straight to a pawn shop across from the Melrose police station because Francisco knew a guy who worked there,” the report states. The victims were returned some of the belongings from the pawn shop, according to police.
Romeoville woman arrested for DUI/drugs
Riverside police arrested Shannon P. McKinney, 41, in the 3300 block of South Harlem Avenue at 2:20 a.m., Dec. 8, after witnessing her run three red lights.
McKinney, of the 300 block of Harbor Court in Romeoville, was driving a 2011 Lincoln when officers saw her drive through red lights at the intersections of Harlem and East Burlington, Harlem and Stanley and Harlem and Winsor, according to a police report.
When McKinney was pulled over, she immediately exited the vehicle and approached the arresting officer. She told the officer that she had filed a stolen vehicle report earlier that evening with the Berwyn police.
Investigators suspected McKinney was under the influence of narcotics and contacted the Berwyn police but were told they had had no contact with McKinney that evening. She was administered a field sobriety test and failed, according to police. The report notes the officer checked McKinney for signs of drug-induced intoxication and found her to have elevated blood pressure and body temperature as well as dilated pupils.
“The inside of her mouth and tongue had dark stains throughout; a check of her hand showed dark stains on her right index finger consistent with a position in which crack cocaine is used to hold the crack pipe,” the report stated. She admitted to being a recovering crack cocaine addict. McKinney was placed under arrest for DUI/drugs and three counts of disobeying a traffic control device, according to police.
Case of the missing sugar cookies
One hundred plain sugar cookies, 100 lightly frosted sugar cookies, 300 empty tart shells, 100 ginger cookies, 100 crackel cookies and 100 plain vanilla marshmallows went missing, Saturday, on the 8800 block of Brookfield Ave., according to Brookfield police. The sweets were valued, combined, at $60, according to police.
The complaint was filed by a woman who serves as a member of the Brookfield Special Events Committee, according to the report. She said she brought the cookies to the village recreation hall for a holiday festival on Friday and left the cookies at the hall. When she returned on Saturday morning, they were missing.
“I checked the video surveillance system in the police station, and it shows the complainant entering the east door with what appears to be one box, and then leaving at 6:30 p.m. with an empty box,” the report states. “I watched the videos of the east and rear doors from 5 p.m. [on Friday] to 10 a.m. [on Saturday], and I did not see anyone leave with a box. I contacted the victim and asked if she was sure she brought two boxes and she said yes.”
The case remains under investigation.
These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, Dec. 2-9, 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 Tim Inklebarger
