2021 Year In Review: Illinois Criminals Who Need A Plan 'B'

ACROSS ILLINOIS — Criminals aren't usually the sharpest tools in the shed, but some go above and beyond the norm and are elevated to the ranks of the profoundly dumb when it comes to their crimes.

From a mom who commits a serious party foul to would-be robbers looking for a clue, here's a look at some of the criminals who clearly need to rethink their life choices in our 2021 Year in Review: Weird Crimes.

Mom Accused Of Allowing Alcohol At Party For 100 Underage Kids

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — A Palos Heights woman is accused of allowing an underage drinking party after which several young party goers needed to be treated for intoxication, police said. Angela Martinez, 51, was charged with one count of violating the liquor control act, a misdemeanor.

The evening of Oct. 30, officers responded to a call of a large fight happening in the 12400 block of 76th Avenue. When officers arrived, they saw 100 mostly underage youths on the property, police said.

Martinez, identified by police as the homeowner, told officers that she was in control of the party and no one was fighting, according to a police news release. While at the scene, officers observed a highly intoxicated juvenile leaving the party, police said. The juvenile was cited for underage drinking and released to their parents.

Moments later, officers found another intoxicated minor in a neighboring yard next to the home where the party was being held. Paramedics transported the girl to a nearby hospital.

Deputy Chief Bill Czajkowski, of the Palos Heights Police Department, said one parent was present, and the party guests were all underage.

"Some kids ended up going to the hospital for medical treatment," he said. "Kids just overindulged in alcohol."

Czajkowski explained the delay in charges were related to trying to locate Martinez, but "ultimately we tracked her down."

"For parents who condone this behavior, this is not acceptable," Czajkowski said.

IL Real Estate Agent Who 'Stormed The Capitol' Fired: Company

CHICAGO — A real estate agent who admitted on social media to "storming the Capitol" has been fired, according to a statement from @properties, a Chicago-based brokerage firm.

"Over the past several hours, @properties has received a tremendous amount of outreach regarding the actions of one of our agents, Libby Andrews, (Jan. 6) in Washington DC," the statement read. "Effective immediately, @properties is terminating this agent, who acknowledged on social media, that she took part in 'storming the Capitol.' @properties does not condone violence, destruction or illegal activities."

Andrews didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment. Reached by text message, she told Patch she would be happy to talk but was currently boarding a plane.

On Twitter, Andrews describes herself as a "Mother, Patriot, Inventor, Entrepreneur" and has shared cryptic QAnon messages, such as "My fellow Americans, the Storm is upon us," which she retweeted yesterday as the violence was unfolding on Capitol Hill.

QAnon is a right-wing conspiracy theory rooted in baseless claims that President Donald Trump is waging a secret war against a satanic child sex trafficking ring run by top Democrats. "The Storm" refers to an apocalyptic event in which the war is finally revealed to the public.

Andrews' recent listings on homesnap.com, a real estate website, include several luxury apartments listed between $449,ooo and $4 million.

"Want an agent who'll really listen to what you want in a home? Need an agent who knows how to effectively market your home so it sells? Give me a call! I'm eager to help and would love to talk to you," she writes online.

A single review posted on the website reads: "great for armed insurrection and sedition, not so good for a condo in the gold coast."

Bamboozled By Teller, Bank Robber Offers ID Before Arrest: FBI

CHICAGO — An alert teller tricked a would-be robber into handing over identifying paperwork and hanging around at a Humboldt Park bank until police arrived to arrest him about 15 minutes later, according to the FBI.

Edner Flores, 34, showed up around 11:45 a.m. Monday and waited in line to see a teller at the PNC Bank branch at 3337 W. North Ave. in Chicago, according to charging documents filed the next day.
The teller told investigators Flores first handed over a white deposit ticket with a message, "No die Packs" and "armed," according to an affidavit from FBI agent Ward Yoder. Officers later reported finding a knife in the pocket of Flores' jacket.

The teller then handed over a blue withdrawal slip and watched as Flores allegedly wrote "$10,000" on the withdrawal ticket.

A photograph of the slip shows the account number written as "1234567898911" with "Ten Thousand dollars" written in cursive above a signature.

The teller then asked Flores for an ATM card and a form of identification, the agent alleged.

Flores continued to cooperate with the requests, providing a receipt for a state identification card issued three days earlier by the Illinois Secretary of State's Office.

Joliet Car Thief Asks Police For Directions To I-80: Cops

JOLIET, IL — A 35-year-old Chicago man is being lodged inside the Will County Jail after Joliet police say he stole a car from the BP Amoco gas station on McDonough Street late Friday afternoon. According to Joliet police, Lafayette Moore drove the stolen car several miles toward Joliet's far east side, only to ask a Joliet officer for directions to Interstate 80.

Moore was arrested on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, Joliet police said.

Around 4:20 p.m. on Friday, someone left their car running and unlocked while they went into the BP Amoco to make a purchase. "The victim exited the store to find that their vehicle was gone," police reports show. Several minutes later, another Joliet officer was investigating a crash near Briggs Street and Spencer Road on Joliet's far east side when Moore approached him, according to police reports.

"Moore arrived in the stolen vehicle and asked the officer for directions to Interstate 80," Joliet police announced. "The officer provided the directions, then realized that the vehicle that Mr. Moore was driving matched the description of a vehicle that had just been stolen."

Once the officer confirmed the car was stolen, he chased after Moore and pulled the Chicago man over near Briggs Street and Mills Road, police said. Moore was arrested without any problems, police said.

Hatchet-Wielding Walgreens Robbery: Man Charged

WHEATON, IL — A Carol Stream man has been accused of using a hatchet to rob a Walgreens in Wheaton. Jason Zell, 32, of the 500 block of Gunderson Drive, was charged with felony armed robbery with a dangerous weapon in connection with Saturday's incident.

Police say Zell came to the Walgreens at 1601 North Main St. just before 9 p.m. and bought an item. According to police, when the clerk opened the register to complete the purchase, Zell placed a silver-bladed hatchet on the counter and reached around the plastic barricade to steal cash from the register. Zell is then accused of knocking over the plastic barricade, retrieving the hatchet and fleeing on foot.

Police say Zell flagged down a Wheaton officer two days later and turned himself in.

"The allegation against Mr. Zell, that he brandished a hatchet at the store clerk who was just trying to make an honest living and stole hundreds of dollars will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release.