A parolee out on a drug charge was arrested with numerous burglar tools in his possession following a garage burglary last Tuesday night. David Hardrick, 39, of Chicago's South Side was stopped by police responding to a call of an attempted burglary on the 900 block of South Taylor Ave. Nov. 5. Police say a search of Hardrick, who was riding bicycles with another man in Columbus Park, turned up numerous screwdrivers, a flashlight and gloves, all of which are considered burglar tools.
A garage on the 800 block of South Taylor was damaged in a burglary attempt the previous night.
Hardrick was later identified as the man a homeowner had earlier watched enter his garage through the service door. He was charged with two felonies, burglary and possession of burglar tools. Hardrick's accomplice, also a parolee, was not charged in the burglary, but was arrested on outstanding warrants.
Garage and vehicle burglaries using pry bars to force doors and break windows continue at a brisk pace in Oak Park. "It's getting to be that time of year," said Commander Clemet Harbour, referring to the annual uptick in vehicle burglaries triggered by thieves looking for easy pickings from shoppers and items left in cars.
Overnight Nov. 8 three vehicles were burglarized on the 800 block of North Belleforte Ave., two by smashing windows. In one a guitar and amplifier valued at $900 were stolen.
The night of Nov. 9 a window was shattered on a car on the 500 block of North Humphrey Ave.
Thieves entered a garage on the 600 block of South Oak Park Ave. through an unlocked service door Oct. 24-27 and stole a snow blower valued at $600.
A bottle of Methadone, various CDs and credits cards were stolen from a car on the 1150 block of South Kenilworth Ave. overnight Nov. 3.
Three ladders and miscellaneous tools valued in total at $6,770 were stolen from a garage on the 1200 block of North Harvey Ave. between Oct. 14 and Nov. 6.
Burglars forced the side door of a garage on the 900 block of Chicago Ave. overnight Nov. 4 and stole a table saw, as well as $20 in coins from a van parked inside.
Someone broke a side window on a 2008 Honda Pilot on the 1200 block of Belleforte Ave. during the day Nov. 7 and stole miscellaneous tools and an iPod valued in total at $1,615.
A wallet was stolen from an unlocked car on the 1150 block of South Taylor Ave. overnight Nov. 5.
A gold and diamond fraternity pin valued at $300 was stolen from an unlocked car on the 200 block of North Grove Ave. overnight on Nov. 6.
A GPS device and $8 in loose coins were stolen from an unlocked car in the Jewel Foods lot, 7525 Lake St. the afternoon of Nov. 8.
Robbery
Tawan Kelly and Jamal D. Moore, both 17 and from Chicago, were chased down and arrested following an alleged attempted robbery on the 100 block of South Scoville Ave. the morning of Nov. 6. The pair reportedly jumped an Oak Park man from behind as he walked on the 400 block of South Scoville, choked him, threw him to the ground and tried to wrest his bag off his shoulder. They fled in different directions afterwards, but were caught a short distance away.
The night of Nov. 9 a man was approached from behind by another man, who stated, "Gimmie your stuff." When the would be victim ran out into the middle of Austin Boulevard to escape, he spotted a second man, who then ran off with the first assailant.
Burglary
A laptop computer and camcorder valued at $2,250 were stolen from a home on the 800 block of Fair Oaks Ave. during the day Nov. Nov. 6.
Violation of order of protection
Rickie Hall, 47, of Chicago allegedly entered a residence on the 500 block of Highland Ave. around midnight, Nov. 8 in violation of a court order of protection. Hall, who hid in a bedroom closet, exited the closet and began arguing with the resident.
Battery
Michelle A. Riley, 24, of the 900 block of North Blvd. was arrested Nov. 7 for after she allegedly punched another woman in the face, pulled her hair and hit her with a baseball bat the afternoon of Nov. 2.
Joshwan Ingram, 20, of the 700 block of North Austin Blvd. was arrested for domestic battery after allegedly punching an Oak Park man in the face the morning of Nov. 9.
Jeremy S. Meyer, 29, of the 1000 block of Wesley Ave. turned himself in to police the afternoon of Nov. 5 in relation to his allegedly punching an Elmwood Park man in the back of the head earlier that afternoon.
Theft
Six cars were stolen in Oak Park last week, four of which were recovered within 36 hours. A 2004 Lexus valued at $21,000 was taken from the Rush Oak Park Hospital parking garage, 520 South Maple Ave., between Oct. 31 and Nov. 3.
A 2004 Infiniti valued at $20,000 was stolen overnight Nov. 2 on the 400 block of South Harvey Ave. It was recovered the following evening on Chicago's West Side.
The night of Nov. 3 a 2007 Kia Ronda was stolen on the 600 block of South Oak Park Ave. It was recovered later that night in Berwyn.
An unlocked 1990 Ford Taurus with the key inside was stolen from the 200 block of South Humphrey Ave. the night of Nov. 4. It was recovered at a gas station in Maywood the afternoon of Nov. 6.
Sometime between Nov. 7 and Nov. 9 a 1998 Chevy Malibu valued at $5,000 was stolen on the 200 block of South Marion St.
The morning of Nov. 7 a 1985 Pontiac Fiero was stolen on the 100 block of North Humphrey Ave. It was recovered just after midnight that night on Roosevelt Road in Hillside.
DUI
Arthur Hudson, 53, of Chicago was allegedly observed by a River Forest officer driving in the oncoming traffic lane on Division near Harlem Avenue around 1 a.m. Nov. 4. Besides DUI, Hudson, who allegedly had a blood alcohol level of .275- well over three times the legal limit- was charged with illegal transportation of alcohol, having no insurance and driving in the wrong lane.
These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Oak Park and River Forest Police departments from Oct. Nov. 2 to Nov. 9. Not all incidents that occurred are listed. Anyone named in reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated.
-Bill Dwyer
