Homewood Police Blotter: Conmen, Multiple Thefts and Credit Card Fraud

sunday, Jan. 16

Domestic Battery

Thomas A. Fath, 45, of the 17900 block of Sacramento in Homewood, was arrested and charged with domestic battery after an incident at his home between 12:30 and 1:30 a.m., according to police.

Attack Reported

A Matteson man was attacked by four unknown men at a party on the 17400 block of Halsted Street in Homewood at 11:20 p.m., according to police.  Officers said the four men struck the victim in the face and head before fleeing in a black Chevrolet Monte Carlo with Illinois license plate number A101033.

Stolen Vodka

Charles J. Warren III, 22, of the 14900 block of North Winslow in Palatine, was charged with retail theft after police said he stole a bottle of vodka from Kmart at 12:40 p.m. Warren was caught placing the stolen bottle in the sleeve of his jacket by store security cameras, according to the report.

Forced Entry

Someone broke into a Homewood woman’s home between 9:15 and 9:30 a.m., according to police. Officers said the victim was in the house at the time of the burglary, when someone kicked the back door open. Upon seeing the victim, the burglar turned and ran out, according to police. Officers said nothing was stolen, but the back door will cost an estimated $400 to repair.

Theft

A woman was fired from her position with Providence At Home, a caretaking organization, when it was discovered she had made several unauthorized purchases with the credit card of the woman she was caring for, according to police. The total amount of the unauthorized purchases was $176.33. No action has yet been taken by the police.

Fencing Con

A Homewood man was the victim of a burglary stunt between 3 and 3:15 p.m., according to police. Police said two men driving a cream colored van arrived at his house and told him they wanted to talk about putting up a fence around his neighbor’s yard. While one of the men took the victim to the back yard to discuss the fence, the other entered the home and stole, at minimum, several pieces of jewelry valued at more than $3,000, according to the report. The burglars had left by the time the victim noticed the missing items.

Credit Card Fraud

Someone used a Glenwood woman’s Fashion Bug credit card to make four transactions on Dec. 16 and 17 totaling $387, according to police. Police said Fashion Bug will be conducting its own investigation on the fraud.

Stolen Video Games, Controller 

Lamont Simms Jr., 23, of the 14600 block of Kentucky in Harvey, was charged with two counts of retail theft after police said he stole an Xbox wireless controller from Gamestop at 11 a.m. and two video games from Kmart just after 11:15 a.m. Simms was found in the Kmart parking lot by police after security saw him place the two games in his front coat pocket and leave the store, according to the report. Upon Simms' arrest, police also discovered a wireless Xbox remote controller and additional video game in a Gamestop bag along with a receipt indicating he had not paid for the controller, according to the report. Police said surveillance footage at Gamestop confirmed Simms placed the controller in his jacket before paying for the game. The total value of the stolen merchandise is $89.97.