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Crime & Safety

Homewood Police Blotter: Indecisive Thief, Kotton Coin Caper

Homewood Police reports, June 1-6.

MONDAY, JUNE 6

Family Bikes Stolen From Garage

A bicycle-loving Homewood family discovered that someone stole an adult woman's bike, a child's Disney Princess bike and a bike rack totaling $2,450, police said. A woman living in the home in the 18000 block of Harwood got up around 5:45 a.m. and found someone had lifted a Saris bike rack from the floor, taking a 26-inch Schwinn Fastback bike, colored silver with blue accents, with accessories, according to the report. She then discovered the girl's pink Disney Princess bike stolen, along with a Saris Cycle-on rack valued at $450.00. Anyone with knowledge of the items should contact the Homewood Police Department.

SUNDAY, JUNE 5

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The Smell of Cannabis in the Morning

A Hazel Crest man was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and cited for having a headlight out following an early-morning traffic stop, police said. Jerome A. Julian, 21, of the 3000 block of Surrey Lane, was pulled over around 3 a.m. after an officer noticed the missing light, according to the report. The officer then noticed a strong odor of cannabis, and Julian admitted he'd been smoking earlier, police said. However, when an officer noticed a glass pipe inside a purple cloth pouch, Julian asserted that the item belonged to a friend. Julian has a June 28 court date in Markham. 

East Hazel Woman Caught With Cognac

An East Hazel Crest woman was charged with retail theft after being found with an unpaid bottle of cognac, police said. LaCourtney D. Armstead, 24, of the 17100 block of Lathrop, was observed with the $43.99 bottle of Hennessy, according to the report.

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Indecisive Bandit Smokes Swisher Sweets, Clerk Says

Homewood police are investigating a Mobil gas station clerk's account of foiling a cigar-loving, indecisive bandit. The clerk told officers he was working at the station at 17500 Dixie Highway when a man came in to pay for Swisher Sweet cigars and gasoline. As the clerk opened the door to make change, the man said, "Gimme the money!" and displayed a handgun, according to the report. The clerk told the would-be robber that he would call police, and the man appeared to change his mind, leaving the store, pumping gas and climbing into the passenger side of the parked car, which then left the station, police said.

Hey, Who Took My Bread At Panera?

A Chicago Heights woman who works at Panera Bread complained to police after realizing that money was missing from her purse. The woman was working with 10 other employees at Panera, 18416 Governors Hwy., when she found that $20 was missing from the purse, which had been stored in a nook accessible to other staff members, police said.

Kotton Laundry Coin Caper

An employee at the Kotton Laundry, 18334 Governors Hwy., found that someone sawed the bottom half of a doorstop and gained access to a storeroom where the "hopper" or change machines were kept, police said. Once inside, someone removed the "guts" of the machines containing change and/or tokens and took them from the building, police said. It was estimated that around $50 in cash but $250 to $500 worth of Kotten Laundry tokens were taken. Factoring in the cost of replacing the gutted machines, the total loss was estimated at $2,000.

Woman’s Name Change Nets Additional Charge

Police say a Markham woman who refused to admit she was driving on a suspended license got an additional charge of obstructing a police officer. Lavenia Smiles, 42, of the 16500 block of Hermitage, told police her name was Lathea Smyles, according to the report. Finally, Smiles admitted that she did not give her real name because she was driving on a suspended license, police said. Smiles has a June 29 court date in Markham.

FRIDAY, JUNE 3

Flossmoor Man Taken To Cleaners

A Flossmoor man told police he lost his cash and credit cards after a visit to Homewood Drive-In Cleaners, 18235 Dixie Hwy., police said. The man said he had $120 dollars in cash, his driver's license and his credit cards rubber-banded together when he lost the bundle around 4 p.m. Around 8:30 p.m., American Express contacted the man after noticing an unusual pattern of charges, including $100 charged to a Marathon gas station and $63 at a Beggar's Pizza.

Thief Preys on Leopard Wallet

A Homewood woman was shopping in the cosmetic area of Kohl's, 17620 Halsted St., when she left her "leopard-colored wallet" unattended in her cart, and lost it, police said. The wallet contained her Illinois driver's license, debit card and insurance card, according to the report.

Shoplifting at Kmart

Two women were charged with retail theft at Kmart after pushing carts full of unpaid merchandise, but the woman who loaded the carts was not charged, according to the report. Angel D. McCauley, 27, of the 1220 block of Vincennes in Blue Island, and Sabrina McCauley, 27, of the 200 block of W. 115th St. in Chicago, were charged with retail theft after police say the pair took carts loaded with liquor and clothing to the sporting goods section and transferred it to plastic bags, according to the report. The two then left without paying for the items, police said. Angel McCauley's items totaled $236.42, while Sabrina McCauley's items totaled $287.21, according to the report. The two are scheduled to appear in Markham Court June 28.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1

James Hart Student Reports Incident

A James Hart student told a counselor that she was terrorized after school by another student who made lewd remarks, tried to pull off her clothing and boasted that he'd consumed four energy drinks, police said. The child said she was walking when the other student attempted to pull her pants down, used profane language and frightened her, according to the report. The girl outran the other child, reached her house and secured the lock, then later reported the other child's behavior, police said. No one has been charged in connection with the incident.

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