Man Arrested In Elmhurst Distract-And-Steal Scam: Cops

ELMHURST, IL – In the last few days, Elmhurst police handled cases involving a distract-and-steal scam, a gun found at a business, disorderly conduct, battery, a fugitive driver, damage and vehicle burglaries. Here is information from the latest Elmhurst police reports:

Distract-and-steal

• Jorge Daniel Cortes-Rodriguez, 29, of Chicago, was arrested Thursday on charges of burglary and theft. Police said the incident was shortly before noon May 2 at Mariano's, 678 N. York St. One suspect distracted a shopper, while the other stole money and a wallet from her purse, police said. The police department's information did not say which role Cortes-Rodriguez was accused of playing. He was taken to the DuPage County Jail.

Gun found at the business

• A gun was found in an employee restroom about 1 p.m. Friday at Gerber Collision & Glass, 400 W. Grand Ave. Four hours later, a 30-year-old Country Club Hills man was charged with disorderly conduct.

Disorderly conduct

• A 36-year-old Clarendon Hills man was arrested about 8:30 p.m. Sunday at 722 N. York St. on a disorderly conduct charge. Police said they were called about the man opening the door of an unlocked car. The man said he was doing so to look at the car. He was released.

Battery

• A 34-year-old Melrose Park man was arrested about 7 p.m. Sunday at a business at 624 N. York St. on charges of battery and disorderly conduct. Police said the man threatened and pushed someone before being asked to leave the business. He was released.

Fugitive driver

• About 1 a.m. Thursday at Interstate 290 and Route 83, an officer tried to stop a car wanted in Hoffman Estates for fleeing and eluding an officer there. The driver sped away. About 7:30 p.m. the next day, police spotted a car sought by Hoffman Estates in the same area. The driver was stopped. A Hoffman Estates officer arrived to take over the investigation. It was unclear whether it was the same car as the day before.

Damage

• The driver's side window of a truck was broken overnight Wednesday in the 400 block of South Fairfield Avenue. Nothing appeared to be stolen.

Vehicle burglaries

• Someone entered an unlocked car and stole a wallet from the center console between 10 p.m. and midnight Wednesday in the 400 block of East Huntington Lane.
• Someone entered a woman's unlocked car and stole a phone between 7:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel, 370 N. Route 83.
• Someone entered a truck and parked it at Super Ego Holding, 677 N. Larch Ave. The person cleaned the interior and stole several items. The incident was believed to have taken place between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday. An investigation is pending.

Theft

• A clay compactor was stolen between 6 p.m. June 14 and noon June 15 at a job site in the 400 block of East Butterfield Road. The theft was reported five days later.

DUI

• A 44-year-old Schaumburg man was found seated in a car about 10 a.m. Saturday at the Extended Stay America hotel, 550 W. Grand Ave. He had a Cook County warrant charging him with DUI (drugs). He was taken to the DuPage County Jail.

Fall

• A man fell while walking his dog about 8 p.m. Saturday in the 200 block of North Myrtle Avenue. He hit his head on the sidewalk. He was taken to Elmhurst Hospital.