About Town

A Stolen Moment in Evanston

Patch columnist Christine Wolf seeks a silver lining in the theft of her son's iPod Touch.

Last week, my nine-year-old son and his three friends played catch after school in the vacant lot behind our house, passing the time until their ride to hip hop class arrived. When my friend pulled up and the boys began piling into the car, I came outside to lend a hand, but my son stood behind, searching the open field for something. “Come on, Buddy,” I said. “Everyone’s waiting for you.” He kept walking back and forth across the lot, searching… “What are you looking for?” I asked, coaxing him toward the car. “I…I left my iPod Touch right here,” he said, pointing to the frozen grass. “You left it on the ground?” I asked, annoyed, because believe me -- we've had all the talks about not leaving things out in the open, about keeping …

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Christine Wolf

9:13 am on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Thanks for the comment. Sounds like you've been touched by theft or helped someone else through a loss?   more ›

Regional Crime Report: Explosion Injures 3, Boy Rescued from River and More

The following police items were taken from area Patch sites. When a charge is referenced it does not indicate a conviction.

Cary Three Injured in Blaze at Industrial Building in Cary Three workers were injured in an explosion and fire at Fox Valley Systems in Cary on Wednesday. Nearby buildings had to be evacuated due to the paint and chemicals contained in the building, officials said. Two people injured in the explosion have been transferred to the burn unit at Loyola Hospital and the third victim was sent to the St. Anthony Hospital Burn Unit in Rockford, according to Cary Fire Lt. Andy Veath.  Investigators from the Cary Fire Protection District, Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Illinois State Fire Marshals are still investigating what caused the two explosions and the subsequent fire. Crystal Lake Student Arrested for Camera Found in …

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Evanston Police Blotter

Burglar Steals Pearl Necklace on Hartzell

This edition of the Evanston police blotter includes information supplied by police on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

The following arrests and incidents were reported by the Evanston Police Department: Arrests: DUI, Possession of Cannabis Matthew Ryan Denesha, 26, of the 900 block of Deerfield Road in Deerfield, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence at 3:24 a.m. Monday, Oct. 8, in the 2700 block of Green Bay Road, police reported. Tyrone Elijah Gibbs, 20, of the 2100 block of Emerson Street in Evanston, was arrested and charged with possession of cannabis in the 1900 block of Foster Street at 6:50 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8, according to police. Armed Robbery On Chicago A man demanded a cell phone and wallet from his victim during an armed robbery in the parking lot of a business in the 600 block of Chicago Avenue at 9:27 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8…

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Evanston Police Blotter

Four Men Hit Victim on Dodge; Romney Signs Stolen on Isabella

This edition of the Evanston police blotter includes information supplied by police on Monday, Oct. 8, 2012. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

The following arrests and incidents were reported by the Evanston Police Department: Arrests: DUI, Possession of Cannabis, Etc. Charles Walker Altmaier, 59, of the 1400 block of Chicago Avenue in Evanston, was arrested and charged with trespassing at a chain business in the 1600 block of Sherman Avenue at 5:31 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, police reported. Sebastian A. Castro, 22, of the 300 block of Neva Avenue in Glenview was arrested and charged with driving under the influence in the 1200 block of Greenwood Street at 1:02 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, according to police.  Steven C. Dykes, 25, of the 1800 block of Brown Avenue in Evanston, was arrested and charged with possession of cannabis in the 1900 block of Grey Avenue at 3:58 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4…

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Evanston Police Blotter

Police: Burglar Breaks Into Car Wash on Dempster

This edition of the Evanston police blotter includes information supplied by police on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

The following arrests and incidents were reported by the Evanston Police Department: Arrests: Aggravated Assault, Battery, Retail Theft, Etc. Charles Walter Altmeier, 59, of the 1400 block of Chicago Avenue in Evanston, was arrested and charged with retail theft at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, at the Whole Foods Market at 1640 Chicago Avenue, police reported.  Michael L. Grigsby, 61, of the 2700 block of West Fargo in Chicago, was arrested and charged with battery at 5:55 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, in the 1400 block of Elmwood Avenue, according to police. Quintella M. John, 27, of the 10600 block of South Walden Parkway in Chicago, was arrested and charged with criminal damage to property at 1:40 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, in the 1800 block of Lemar, …

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Blotter: Graffiti, Stolen Credit Card and Wallets

The following information was supplied by the Evanston Police Department on Tuesday, July 31. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

  Criminal Damage to Property Damage to the front door of a business in the 1900 block of Dempster St. was reported to police at 8:15 a.m. July 29. The offender is described as a black male, who is 6 feet tall and weighs 195 pounds.  Police found graffiti at a park in the 100 block of Ashland Ave. at 4:30 p.m. July 30.  The offender(s) is unknown at this time.  Damage to a bedroom wall was reported to police at a single-family residence in the 1900 block of Emerson St. at 8:19 a.m. July 30.  The offender is described as black male. No other identifying information was provided by police.  Armed Robbery A wallet along with its contents was stolen from a individual in the 300 block of Chicago Ave. at 1:30 a.m. July 31. The offender, …

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Blotter: Shots Fired, Stolen Baby Carriage and Traffic Cones Taken

The following information was supplied by the Evanston Police Department on Monday, July 30. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

Battery A victim reported being pushed in the chest by a female subject who was 5 feet 6 inches tall and 184 pounds in the 1200 block of Forest Avenue on July 27.  A police officer was the victim of battery from a male subject who was 5 feet 8 inches tall and 210 pounds in the 1400 block of Pitner Avenue July 27.  Burglary from a Motor Vehicle An Apple laptop computer and a Pioneer in-dash television car stereo were stolen from a 1992 BMW parked on the street in the 200 block of Custer Avenue between midnight and 2:45 p.m. July 27.  Burglary of Vehicle Parts/Accessories A black Nitro flip down screen television was stolen from a 2005 Dodge parked in an alley in the 700 block of Dobson Street.  The theft occurred sometime between 11 p.m. …

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Police Blotter Nov. 7: Man Charged with Assaulting Cop in Home

The following arrest information was supplied by the Evanston police department. It does not indicate a conviction.

Robbery A man attacked someone and stole an Apple iPhone 4 on a house porch on the 2000 block of Ridge Avenue at 1:05 a.m. on Sunday. The suspect is a black man about 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds. Assault & Battery A man allegedly assaulted a police officer at 1:21 a.m. on Saturday at a house on the 700 block of Central Street. Michael P. Coutre, 43, of Evanston was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. His court date is set for Dec. 21. A man hit someone in the head on the 1700 block of Grey Avenue at 10:05 p.m. on Friday. The suspect is a black man about 5-foot-10 and 159 pounds. A man reportedly assaulted someone at Food 4 Less at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday on the 2400 Main Street. The suspect is a black man about 5-foot-5 and 200 …

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OMG PD

OMG PD: Odd Crimes in Our Patch Region

This week: A collection of strange stolen items, including ice cream, body wash and fish.

How to plan a romantic, inexpensive dinner party Ten dinner plates, two bottles of body wash and three candles were stolen from an Oak Park apartment. Is there a constitutional right to commit stupid crimes? A Skokie man was caught allegedly trying to leave a Skokie supermarket with a cart full of beer and groceries. When police stopped him after he allegedly fled the store without paying, police said the man declared: “I plead the Fifth.” APB on a refrigerated getaway car Fifteen boxes of ice cream treats were stolen from a trio of Good Humor trucks parked behind Oak Ice Cream Distributors in Oak Park. Investigators say the bandit or bandits broke the front plastic passenger window of one of the trucks and forced down the passenger …

OMG PD

OMG PD: Odd Crimes in Our Patch Region

This week: an apologetic burglar, a flower vandal and crank calls from Anthony Hopkins.

Local police departments provided the following reports. In all incidents where an arrest occurred, a charge is merely an accusation and not evidence of guilt. Is your refrigerator still running, Clarice? Two business owners came into the Skokie police station to report more than 100 harassing phone calls they had received from a man allegedly named Anthony Hopkins. I swear, your honor, I had the sniffles real bad A store employee told Niles police that a man in his 20s took 39 boxes of allergy medication and left without paying. Breaking and entering and apologizing A Skokie man came home after he did some shopping and saw two strangers rummaging through his belongings. When the burglars saw the homeowner, one of them immediately …

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