A Lombard couple got a thorough, cold dunking in the Des Plaines River on March 29, when their canoe took on water and sunk during a day when day-long winds whipped the rain-swollen waterway.

Police received a 911 call at about 2:50 p.m. that someone was in the water hanging on to a canoe in the river. By the time they arrived, they found a 23-year-old woman  standing on the riverbank on the Riverside side, near the Scout Cabin.

Meanwhile, a 26-year-old man clambered out of the water near the canoe launch on the Lyons side of the river. No one was hurt and both refused medical attention.

According to police, the couple was trying to paddle the canoe upstream – a difficult task given the strong winds and downstream current. The boat took on water and ended up sinking to the bottom of the river.

Due to the conditions, it was not possible to recover the boat at this time.

While the pair were not in violation of the governor’s stay-at-home order, Police Chief Thomas Weitzel urged using some sense.

“At this time of national crisis regarding COVID-19, it was not the time to be canoeing on the Des Plaines River,” Weitzel said. “The individuals were advised to cease this activity in the future.”

 

Car stolen from dealer

Three men face felony burglary charges for their alleged roles in the theft of a Nissan Sentra from the service garage at Zeigler Ford, 2100 Harlem Ave., North Riverside on March 28 at about 3:50 p.m.

The men were apprehended by police near the car dealership after one of them crashed a black Ford Edge, which was allegedly involved in the heist, into a Chevy Tahoe on Harlem Avenue as they tried to flee.

Police say they were part of a six-man crew that drove into the service garage and got out, checking door handles of vehicles before one made off with the Nissan, which eluded police.

 

Boy struck by train

An 11-year-old boy was critically injured on the afternoon of March 28 when he reportedly darted around downed Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad crossing gates at Prairie Avenue and was struck by a westbound Amtrak train.

According to the police report, the boy had been listening to music headphones plugged into his cellphone at the time. Police say the incident was an accident.

 

Garage burglary

A resident of the 2200 block of Forest Avenue, North Riverside, called police on March 28 to report that he just noticed items missing from his unlocked garage, likely taken overnight.

Among the missing items were a two Fender guitar amplifiers, a red Washburn guitar and a microphone.

 

Vehicle break-ins

  • Brookfield police responded to the 8800 block of Ogden Avenue on the morning of March 25 after a towing company employee flagged down an officer to report that his apparently unlocked tow truck, which has been parked in an off-street lot there, had been burglarized.

Missing from the interior were a cardboard box full of slimjim tools, a black bag filled with tow straps and a flashlight/knife combo. Also missing from the truck were two lifting arms valued at $500 each.

  • A resident of the 500 block of Selborne Road, Riverside, called police on March 28 at 1:45 p.m. to report that sometime since 6 p.m. on March 27, someone had entered her unlocked vehicle, which was parked in the driveway.

Someone had gone through a gym bag inside the vehicle, but nothing was reported missing.

  • A resident of the 9100 block of 30th Street, Brookfield, called police at about 5 a.m. on March 30 to report that about five minutes earlier he heard his vehicle’s alarm go off and looked outside to observe the dome light on.

Nothing was missing from the vehicle, but an officer on patrol located a man walking in the vicinity of 27th Street and Park Avenue. The victim said he didn’t wish to pursue the case. Police reported the man they’d found in the area admitted going inside the car, but that he didn’t take anything.

However, the man reportedly possessed plastic bags containing cannabis and cocaine, and police took him into custody.

 

Scammed

An 18-year-old Brookfield woman called police on March 27 to report that she’d been scammed out of $75.

The victim told police that the previous day she tried to buy a Nintendo Wii video console through an app called LetGo. She made contact with someone who said they’d ship the game from Missouri as soon as she sent $75 via PayPal.

However, once the money was sent, the seller reportedly blocked the victim on the LetGo app and further attempts to reach the seller went unanswered.

 

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, March 23-30, 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.