School Threats; Loan Fraud Discovered; Tech Support Scams: Blotters

NEW TRIER TOWNSHIP, IL — The following information comes from the Glencoe, Kenilworth, Northfield, Wilmette and Winnetka police departments and court records as a record of police activity and incidents reported to the police. Criminal charges merely represent accusations by the state, and county prosecutors often choose to drop or reduce them. Updated information may be available from the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Anyone arrested is innocent unless later proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

WILMETTE

INCIDENTS

HOME BURGLARY
A resident in the 3500 block of Lake Avenue reported on Feb. 19 that someone had broken into their house while they were out of town and stolen cash from inside.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT
Around 9:15 a.m. on Feb. 20, Wilmette police received a call from someone claiming that they had bombs and guns and threatening to carry out an attack on Wilmette Junior High School, 620 Locust Road. Police determined the call was a hoax, and other area schools received similar threats.

BATTERY
A resident reported on Feb. 23 that someone had pushed them against a wall during an argument. There were no injuries and the alleged offender left before police showed up.

SCAM
A Linden Avenue resident reported on Feb. 23 that someone had called them about some kind of computer issue and scammed them into overnighting money in order to fix the issue. The resident sent an unspecified amount of money before realizing the call was a scam.

STOLEN CARS

• Someone stole a Volvo SUV from the 900 block of 10th Street on or before Feb. 21. The resident said they still had both keys in their possession.
• Someone stole a Volkswagen SUV from a driveway in the 1000 block of Greenwood Avenue on or before Feb. 21. The key may have been taken from another car that had been left unlocked.

CAR BURGLARIES

• Someone stole a wallet from an unlocked Volkswagen SUV parked in the 2200 block of Greenwood Avenue on or before Feb. 22. Several fraudulent charges were later made on credit cards stolen from the car.
• Someone broke the rear window and damaged the steering column of a Kia SUV parked in the 1300 block of Central Avenue. It was not clear if anything was stolen at the time of the report.

ELECTRONIC HARASSMENT

• Someone sent several threatening social media messages to a person in the 4000 block of Fairway Drive on or before Feb. 17.
• A person in the 900 block of Ashland Avenue reported that someone had sent them threatening messages over an unresolved business matter.

THEFTS

• Someone stole a watch from a home in the 2200 block of Greenwood Road sometime over the past several months, police were told on Feb. 17.
• Someone stole two street signs from the intersection of Illinois Road and Laramie Avenue on or before Feb. 20.
• Someone stole the street sign for Old Glenview Road at the intersection of Vista Drive on or before Feb. 21.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

Dermott O. Moffat, 40, with no permanent address, was charged with criminal damage to state-supported property and trespassing at the Metra station, 722 Green Bay Road, in connection with two incidents. Authorities said he first shattered a window with the metal top of a garbage can and threatened another person at the station around 2 a.m. on Feb. 18. After being released from custody he returned to the same station, where a Union Pacific employee told police he was banned. In response, he threatened to kill the woman who called the police on him, lit money on fire and threw it at police, who took him to the hospital. After being released without charges, Moffat was arrested a second time Feb. 21 and this time charged with criminal trespassing.

A 24-year-old Chicago woman was arrested around 5 a.m. on Feb. 18 and issued a local ordinance citation for unlawful possession of cannabis.

A 26-year-old Chicago man was arrested on Feb. 20 and issued a local ordinance citation for unlawful possession of cannabis following a traffic stop in the 1500 block of Wilmette Ave.

A 60-year-old Chicago man was arrested on Feb. 22 and charged with driving with a suspended license after officers were dispatched to a traffic crash in the 700 block of Ridge Road and learned one of the drivers involved did not have a valid license.

KENILWORTH

INCIDENTS

IDENTITY THEFT
A Cumnor Road resident reported on March 2 that someone had used their identity to take out a fraudulent load from the U.S. Small Business Administration sometime in 2020. The resident learned of the loan after being notified of a past due amount on the $5,500 loan.

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GLENCOE

INCIDENTS

COUNTERFEIT CASH
A representative of North Shore Exchange, 372 Hazel Ave., reported on the morning of Feb. 22 that staff at North Shore Bank had contacted the business to notify them that a recent deposit included a fake $100 bill.

ARREST/CITATIONS

Richard Romolo, 54, of the 5600 block of North Keystone Avenue, Chicago, was arrested on Feb. 20 and charged with retail theft in connection with a Dec. 22, 2022, incident at Binny's Beverage Depot.

WINNETKA

INCIDENTS

DISORDERLY CONDUCT
Someone phoned in a threat to North Shore Country Day school, 310 Green Bay Road, on the morning of Feb. 20. Police determined it was likely a "swatting" incident involving phony threats, and similar threats were reported the same morning in other local districts, including Wilmette School District 39, according to Winnetka school officials, who said the threat was not found to be credible.

FORGERY
Someone used counterfeit cash at the McDonald's, 858 Green Bay Road, at some point prior to 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 24. Police reported the bill was turned over to the U.S. Secret Service.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

A 21-year-old Chicago man was arrested around 11:45 p.m. on Feb. 20 and issued citations for speeding between 26 and 34 mph over the limit and driving without lights when required following a traffic stop in the 1300 block of Willow Road.

A 24-year-old Chicago man was arrested around 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 and charged with driving without a valid license following a traffic stop in the 400 block of Sheridan Road.

NORTHFIELD

INCIDENTS

PACKAGE THEFT
A resident in the 600 block of Arbor Lane reported on the morning of Feb. 24 that several packages, worth about $320, had been stolen or not delivered to their condominium building in December 2022.

PARKING DISPUTE
Officers were called to the 1700 block of Maple Street around 10:45 a.m. on Feb. 24 for a report of a disturbance involving two motorists arguing about a parking spot. Police resolved the situation without an arrest.

ONLINE SCAM
An Eaton Street resident reported on Feb. 24 that they had called a number that appeared in a suspicious pop-up alert. The resident was told that their computer had a virus and scammed into providing personal identifying information. Later, a scammer called claiming to be a representative of a sheriff's office and asked for more personal information. Police advised the resident how to prevent further identity theft.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

A 37-year-old Skokie man was arrested around 6:30 a.m. on Feb. 22 and charged with driving with a suspended license following a traffic stop near the intersection of Willow and Northfield roads. He was also issued citations for expired plates and no taillights.

A 38-year-old Chicago man was arrested around 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 and charged with driving without a valid license following a traffic stop in the 2100 block of Willow Road. Police also issued him a citation for speeding 60 mph in a 30 mph zone.

Earlier: 'Proposition' Leads To Arrest Of Chicago Man; Dog Walker Threatened; Burglarized Home May Have Been Unlocked; Romance Scam And Fake Grant Plan Fool Residents: New Trier Township Police Blotters

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