Homewood Police Blotter: Fight at Tin Ceiling, Clanking Purse, Wisconsin Wire Thief

SUNDAY, MAY 15

Harvey Man Charged with Theft

A Harvey man was charged with retail theft after taking a case of Icehouse beer worth $12.56, police said. David J. Jackson, 33, of the 15000 block of Ashland in Harvey, first entered Kmart, 17550 Halsted, to return an item, then placed the beer in the cart and walked out without paying, according to the report.

SATURDAY, MAY 14

Paying for Stranger's Comcast

A Homewood man who thought he was paying for his wife's Comcast bill found out he was paying for a stranger's service, police said. The man's Chase checking account has been debited monthly since Aug. 11, 2010, according to the report. After the man found out it was not his wife's cable bill, he contacted the bank and police. About $1,614.18 in phony charges were drafted to the man's account, police said.

Harvey Woman Caught With Bud, Canadian Mist, Clothes

A 39-year-old Harvey woman was charged with retail theft after being caught trying to steal liquor and clothing from Kmart, police said. Tajattia F. Owens, of the 15000 block of Dixie Highway, left the store without paying for clothing, two cases of Budweiser beer and a bottle of Canadian Mist, police said. The items were valued at $144.89. Owens has a June 28 court date in Markham, according to the report.

Wanted Captain Morgan, Got Homewood P.D.

A Calumet City man who tried to go home with a bottle of Captain Morgan from Kmart instead got a date with the Homewood police department, police said. Michael T. West, 35, of the 800 block of Buffalo Avenue in Calumet City, was spotted putting the $16.49 bottle of rum under his jacket and was charged with retail theft, according to the report.

Fistfight at Tin Ceiling Nets Charges

A Homewood man was charged with battery after allegedly choking another Homewood man at the Tin Ceiling tavern, 2012 Ridge Rd., police said. Dana Corning, 36, of the 2100 block of Hawthorne, got in a heated argument with another man, then choked that man and struck him in the face with a closed fist, police said. He has a June 14 court date in Markham.

FRIDAY, MAY 13

Unlucky Wisconsin Wire Thief

Friday the 13th proved unlucky for a would-be copper wire thief from the Badger State, police said. Bradley M. Jones, 22, of Wisconsin, was in the Homewood Menards store, 17545 Halsted, when he placed a roll of copper wire in a cart, then covered it with his jacket, police said. After being stopped outside the store with the 318-foot spool of standard, bare copper wire, Jones pretended to be a Californian named Hank, according to the report. After he was unable to produce a receipt, Jones was charged with retail theft for stealing the copper wire, valued at $343.35, and one count of obstructing police for pretending to be from California.

Riverdale Roommates Caught at Kmart

Two Riverdale roommates were caught shoplifting clothing at Kmart on Friday, police said. Store security saw Janice A. Jenkins and Katherine Williams, who live on the 14000 block of School Street in Riverdale, each taking clothing without paying for it, police said. Both women were charged with retail theft, according to the report.

Hoffman Estates Man Charged as Police Aid Ex-Girlfriend

A 23-year-old Hoffman Estates man was charged with obstructing police and his companion was charged with cannabis possession after his Steger ex-girlfriend sought help from local law enforcement, police said. Brandon Ward, of Hoffman Estates, was spotted by an officer near the address where his ex-girlfriend was visiting, police said. The unidentified Steger woman had requested that police accompany her to that location because she was afraid of Ward, according to the report. The officer saw Ward and his companion, James Barnett, 50, of the 3600 block of Bob White Lane in Rolling Meadows, and attempted to speak to the men, according to the report. Instead, Ward fled and Barnett attempted to enter the driver's side of a vehicle containing cannabis, police said. Homewood police contacted Chicago Heights officers about seeking charges against Ward for an earlier incident involving his girlfriend, but learned that since three days had passed, she would need to seek an Order of Protection from the Cook County State's Attorney's office, according to the report. The woman decided to seek shelter at a friend's house, police said.

Wallet Slides into Wrong Hands at White Castle

A Chicago Heights woman who forgot her wallet on the table after a late-night meal at the Homewood White Castle, 18250 Halsted, lost her debit card and a $5 bill, police said. When the woman returned to the restaurant around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, she found employees had placed her wallet behind the counter, but her money and First Midwest debit card were gone, according to the report. The card was used around 3 a.m. to purchase $78.60 in fuel at the Speedway gas station, the report said.

THURSDAY, MAY 12

Son Charged with Battery after Battle for Keys

A 26-year-old Homewood man who lives with his mother was charged after fighting her for the keys to her car, police said. Kyle C. Welke, of the 18000 block of Clyde, was charged with domestic battery after arguing with his mother, pushing her on the back and pulling her around the living room by her purse straps, according to the report. The woman told the Homewood Police Department she wouldn't give her son the car keys because he'd been drinking alcohol, police said.

Freon Thief with Golden Bag 0n Lam

Homewood police are seeking a woman who carried a golden purse to Pep Boys Auto Parts, 18024 Halsted, and escaped with a dozen cans of freon, reports said. Around 7:16 p.m., a store employee noticed the woman, who was carrying a large, gold-colored purse, and asked her if she needed help, police said. In response, the woman fled toward the main front exit, creating a loud noise as if cans were clanking together in her purse, according to the report. The Pep Boys employee then became suspicious and called to the woman to stop so he could inspect her noisy handbag. Instead, the woman fled to the parking lot and drove away in a newer model, maroon-colored Chevy Suburban and drove southbound on Halsted, police said. After watching the woman disappear, the employee checked a recently stocked Dupont freon store display and realized a dozen cans of freon worth a total of $179.88 were missing, police said. The suspect was described as African-American, 5-foot-6, 160 pounds, between 30 and 40 years of age, with long hair, glasses with gold rims and dressed in a black shirt and capri pants, police said.

Mystery Shopper Ad Scam

A Homewood woman answered an Internet advertisement to be a mystery shopper, but realized it was a scam, police said. The woman received two postal orders for $986.17 from the email contact, and deposited them in her TCF Bank account, police said. She then received an email instructing her to spend $40 at any Walmart store, then wire $1,622 to an address in the Phillippines. At this point, the woman realized she was the target of a scam and contacted the Homewood Police Department, police said. The two money orders proved fraudulent, according to the report.