Restaurant Pickpockets Splurge on $6,000 in Goods: Tinley Park Police Blotter

MONDAY, JAN. 21

Pickpockets Are Big Spenders

Police were called to TGIFriday's, 7200 W. 191^st Street, after a victim reported that her wallet was stolen while she was dining at the restaurant.

The woman told police she received an alert from her bank that her credit card was just used at Best Buy, 7330 W. 191^st Street, for two transactions of $748.99 each. When she looked in her purse for her wallet, she noticed the wallet was missing. The wallet contained the victim's driver's license, approximately $100 cash, eight credit cards and a debit card.

Before she even noticed her wallet was missing, her credit cards and debit card were used for purchases at Best Buy, Super Target and Target in Crestwood. The transactions totaled approximately $5,980, which included the purchase for several iPads and gift cards.

Best Buy in Tinley Park provided police with still images of a white female using the victim's credit card to make several purchases, while the Tinley Park Super Target provided video of a black female making several transactions at the store using the victim's credit cards.

SUNDAY, JAN. 20

Dance Boyfriend, Dance

Levi D. Hoger, 30, of the 17200 block of 71^st Court, was charged with domestic battery and interfering with the reporting of domestic violence, after an incident at his apartment.

Officers spoke with Hoger, who said that he and his girlfriend were at various bars during the night and she was angry with him for, 'not dancing with her enough.' Hoger said the victim scratched his face during the argument, but did not want to press charges.

Police then spoke with the victim, Hoger's girlfriend, who said that she wanted Hoger to leave the apartment they shared because he was intoxicated. She said Hoger became angry with her and held her down on the bed, wrestling her phone away from her.

The victim was able to get her phone back and called police. She told officers she was afraid Hager would hurt her. 

The victim then told officers she didn't want to press charges, because she didn't, 'want to send Levi to jail because he is already in a lot of trouble from last time,' according to the report.

Officers informed the victim that they would be signing domestic battery complaints on her behalf.

Officers have been to the apartment five times since 2011 for domestic-related incidents involving the couple, according to the report.

SATURDAY, JAN. 19

Bar Brawl Between Bouncer, Customer

Nicholas J. Sanfilippo 27, of the 7400 block of W. 170^th Street, was charged with misdemeanor battery, after a fight at Durbin's, 17265 Oak Park Avenue.

Officers said that they heard a disturbance coming from the front of Durbin's and upon arrival, saw a group of several people surrounding two individuals who appeared to be fight.

Police spoke with the victim, who said Sanfilippo exchanged words with other patrons when he asked them to leave. The victim, a bouncer at Durbin's, said that Sanfilippo appeared to be leaving, but turned around and punched the victim in the face.

The victim said he bear-hugged Sanfilippo to stop the assault and took him outside, where the two fell to the ground and a scuffle ensued.

Sanfilippo told officers that the victim started the incident and tackled him to the ground as he and his friend were leaving the bar. He told officers that the victim was squeezing his head in a headlock, so as to not allow him to breath.

The victim signed a complaint against Sanfilippo, who was processed and released on bond. He is schedule to appear in court on Feb. 25, at the Bridgeview Courthouse.

FRIDAY, JAN. 18

Tough Times Lead to Crime

Mary L. Martin, 48, of the 9100 block of W 140^th Street, Orland Park, was charged with retail theft, following an incident at Jewel Osco, 17117 Harlem Avenue.

Police were called to the grocery store after a loss prevention officer reported he caught Martin stealing 43 items from the store, for a total value of $112.43.

Officers spoke with Martin, who admitted to the theft, telling officers she is on disability and times are tough.

Martin was transported to the Tinley Park Police Department, where she was processed and released. She is scheduled to appear at the Bridgeview Courthouse on Feb. 25.

FRIDAY, JAN. 18

The Weed Is Mine, But Not the Coke

Ralph M. Durham 24, of the 3600 block of Arthur Terrace, Markham, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug equipment and possession of cannabis 30 grams and under, following a traffic stop in the 7600 block of 159^th Street.

During the stop, officers detected the odor of burnt cannabis and Durham told them there was cannabis in his gym bag. Officers also found an apple with two holes in it that Durham used for smoking cannabis, along with a glass pipe, according to the report.

During the search, officers also located a small, knotted plastic baggie that contained a white, chalky substance. Officers questioned Durham about the baggie and its contents, with Durham telling officers they 'know what that is,' before admitting to officers that it was cocaine.

Durham denied that the cocaine was his and said he lends his car to friends and that they must have left it in the car.

Durham was transported to the Tinley Park Police Station, where he was processed and then placed in a holding cell for transport to a bond hearing on Jan. 19.

Police report information is provided by the Tinley Park Police Department and other law enforcement agencies. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.