Saturday, January 11, 2025   |   View in browser

Weekly Deployment Meeting Highlights

In this post, a community member who sits in on the Evanston Police
Department’s weekly Deployment Meeting, shares notes on the topics discussed and writes about public safety matters of interest to people who work or live in Evanston.

Tell Mama

In fact, tell Papa, Grandma and Grandpa, too. Bitcoin scams targeting elderly citizens are on the rise and they are far from petty crimes. The FBI said in its Cryptocurrency Fraud Report that people ages 60 and older filed more than 69,000 complaints alleging more than $5.6 billion of losses last year.

Here in Evanston, a caller reported that her elderly father was contacted via phone by an unknown party claiming to be from BMO Harris Bank’s Fraud Department. The victim spoke to the party and was persuaded to withdraw $25,000 from his bank account, which he deposited, per instructions, into a bitcoin ATM machine located at 1019 Davis.

Over the course of this transaction, the victim provided the fraudsters with the QR code associated with the bitcoin purchase and remote access into his computer, allowing the crooks to compromise his email and cell phone accounts.

Rolling Meadows had a recent incident where the grifter told the victim that more postage money was needed to mail a package. He ended up bilking the victim for $25,000.

Weekly Crime Map

Click to enlarge

Deployment Presentation – January 08, 2025 

Arrests

• Detectives stopped a vehicle near Custer and Case on Jan. 1 and determined that a passenger had an arrest warrant out of Cook County. The individual was taken into custody.
• On Dec. 31, detectives conducted a traffic stop in the 1700 block of Payne and arrested a man for an active warrant out of Cook County.
• On Dec. 21, detectives executed a traffic stop at Brummel and Ridge and were able to take a man into custody for an outstanding felony narcotics violation.
• A documented gang member with a significant criminal record was arrested by detectives and patrol officers on Dec. 20 for changing price stickers on items at Target in the 2200 block of Howard.
• Officers responded to a call about a package theft in the 2000 block of Seward on Dec. 20. The caller reported that he confronted the subject in an effort to retrieve his package, which resulted in a physical altercation. Officers were able to locate the suspect and arrest him. He was carrying a backpack that contained additional packages.

Aggravated Battery

On Dec. 30, a female was leaving Walgreens in the 900 block of Dodge when she was approached by a stranger asking for money. She declined, but the man followed her to her car, reached inside, touched her inappropriately, and stated, “I would’ve loved to assault you.” She was able to drive off. Video was reviewed, and an Attempt to Identify Bulletin has been disseminated.

Catalytic Converter Theft

Two during this period, both on the south end.

• On Dec. 23 from a 2007 Honda CRV parked in the 700 block of Mulford.
• On Dec. 23 from a 2007 Chevy Trailblazer in the 100 block of Clyde.

Domestic Incidents

• A special watch has been issued on a residence where a victim reported receiving threatening messages from her ex on multiple platforms. The offender lives out of state, where he faces sexual assault charges for an incident that occurred last August.
• A Chicago man wanted for an aggravated domestic battery in Evanston was taken into custody on Jan. 2.
• On Jan. 2, a man on parole for multiple weapons offenses demanded money from his girlfriend’s family, then threatened to harm them. The offender left the family’s home before cops arrived. The family is considering an order of protection.

Graffiti

Just tagging in the 300 block of Dodge and the 1200 block of Elmwood.

Motor Vehicle Burglary

So many during this period, all around town, and most unlocked:

• Dec. 19 in the 1000 block of Florence, cash and documents taken.
• Dec. 23 in the 100 block of Clyde, cash and credit cards.
• Dec. 25 in the 400 block of Custer, cash and sunglasses.
• Dec. 27 in the 2000 block of Dobson, radio speakers, and a duffle bag.
• Jan. 4 in the 1800 block of Brummel, cash and tools.
• Jan. 6 in the 100 block of Keeney, wallet.
• Jan. 7 in the 1600 block of Oak, various items.

Motor Vehicle Theft

Stolen

• Officers responded to a parking complaint of an unoccupied Nissan Versa in an alley in the 2000 block of Dewey on Dec. 28. The vehicle, identified as stolen out of Chicago, was towed to North Shore Towing. Police are checking security cameras in the area.
• Between Dec. 19 and Dec. 20, a towing company arrived to tow a 2014 Kia LX in an accident in the 1900 block of Howard. It turned out that the towing company was a fraud. The Kia was not returned to the owner and is now considered stolen.

Package Theft

• Jan. 7 in the 900 block of Hinman, a Game Boy, and gloves.
• Jan. 3 in the 800 block of Hinman, attempt only.
• Jan. 1 in the 700 block of Brummel, cleaning supplies.
• Dec. 22 in the 1200 block of Chicago, floor mats.
• Dec. 21 in the 800 block of Judson, clothing.
• Dec. 20 in the 2100 block of Keeney, shoes.
• Dec. 19 in the 100 block of Callan, slippers.
• Dec. 19 in the 100 block of Callan, dresses and shoes.
• Dec. 14 in the 700 block of Case, a board game.

Residential Burglary

• On Jan. 3, an unknown male managed to sneak into The Mather in the 400 block of Davis. He knocked on doors and used deception to enter several resident apartments. Two residents reported items missing.
• On Dec. 30, an unknown person entered a residence in the 1000 block of Wesley and made off with gold coins.

Retail Theft

• An unknown male, captured on security video, has repeatedly taken items from Marshall’s in the 2400 block of Main. He struck again on Jan. 3. An Attempt to Identify Bulletin has been dispatched.
• On Dec. 23, two male offenders loaded multiple grocery carts with laundry detergent valued at $1,600 and fled the Food 4 Less store in the 2400 block of Main. The getaway vehicle has been active in similar cases throughout the area.
• The store manager of CVS in the 1700 block of Sherman noticed a large amount of inventory missing on Dec. 23. Security footage revealed a group of females placing items in their bags before leaving the store. The subjects stole items from a Lincolnwood CVS the same day. Bulletins have been dispatched.

Robbery

• On Dec. 19, a group of females entered a store in the 800 block of Main. One of the subjects made a purchase, while the rest of the crew pulled products off the shelves. When a store employee attempted to block the door, one of the offenders pushed her.

Weapons-Related

Person with a Gun

• On Dec. 20, a citizen reported that two people were staring at him as he took a walk in the 100 block of Asbury. He also reported that the driver of a dark sedan pulled up and pointed a weapon at him. He told police that it could have been a cell phone. He made a few more odd statements. No evidence was found at the scene.

Shots Fired

• Just after midnight on Jan. 1, officers were flagged down by a female who reported a male subject discharging a firearm in the 2000 block of Howard. EPD officers were able to recover several shell casings at the scene. CPD cops arrived to assume control of the investigation. While there, EPD cops heard 6-7 loud reports emanating from Evanston. The area was checked with negative results.
• On Dec. 31, officers responded to Harvard and Ridge for a report of five shots. Nothing was located at the scene.
• On Dec. 26, two callers stated that they heard gunshots in the 100 block of Florence. Evidence was not found.
• On Dec. 22, a caller reported 3-5 shots heard near Twiggs Park. Another caller reported two juveniles running in the area. Police were able to make contact with one youth, but nothing was located.
• An anonymous citizen reported the sound of gunfire and a car screeching away near Elmwood and Mulford. Police interviewed people in the area who didn’t see or hear anything unusual.

Random Notes

• The results are in. The holiday traffic safety campaign that ran from Dec. 13 to Jan. 2 yielded 171 citations. The top three offenses? 
• No. 1: seat belt violations. 
• No. 2: electronic device violations. 
• No. 3: speeding.
• Here’s a note for you animal lovers. You may recall an incident early last month when a dog defending his home was shot by burglars. At the time, the dog’s injuries, though serious, appeared survivable. We asked Victim Services for an update and were informed that, according to the dog’s owner, the courgeous K-9, who attacked one of the crooks, may eventually face surgery for the removal of his injured eye but is in good spirits.
• Parks and Recreation reminds residents and their canine companions to stay off the ice shelf along the lakefront. What looks safe for walking is deceiving. An estimated 250 people die every year falling through ice-covered waterways. And here’s some trivia for you: Lake Michigan has never completely frozen over. According to Tom Skilling, it is a “massive reservoir of heat that is released only slowly into the air.”

Inquiring Minds: A Quick Look at Cook County State’s Attorney

On Dec. 2, Eileen O'Neill Burke was sworn in as the new Cook County State's Attorney. A veteran prosecutor with over 25 years of legal experience who garnered 67.4% of the overall vote, she has dedicated most of her career to public service, specializing in criminal law and victim advocacy.

What the job entails               

The Cook County State's Attorney is the chief prosecutor for Cook County and is responsible for enforcing the law and ensuring justice. The office prosecutes criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies and represents the county in civil matters. The office oversees a team of assistant state's attorneys who handle cases in the circuit courts, appeals, and juvenile matters. In addition, the office advocates for crime victims, provides legal advice to county officials, and works to implement reforms in the criminal justice system. It’s a big job.

Early focus on public safety and the SAFE-T Act

The SAFE-T Act's passage in 2021 made Illinois the first state in the United States to abolish cash bail as the standard of pretrial detention. One of its many goals was to direct the courts to release, rather than incarcerate, defendants on their own recognizance given certain conditions. The law went into effect in 2023 and has been a lightning rod for controversy even since. Some considered it a victory for social justice; others saw it as a threat to public safety.

On her first day in office, Burke announced policy changes related to the SAFE-T Act's pre-trial detention guidelines. These changes were aimed at reducing violence and protecting victims by empowering prosecutors to request detention for a broader category of offenses, including those involving firearms, felonies committed on public transportation, child sex offenses, child pornography, and more. (Find a complete list here.) This means that prosecutors in Cook County will pre-trial detention for those defendants they feel pose the greatest risk to the community. 

Burke’s election marks a significant milestone in Cook County’s legal landscape and a pivot in the prosecutorial environment. 

Send us your questions. What would you like to know? We’ll respond with an answer in the next issue or two. Comments and suggestions are welcome too. Contact us here.

The weekly deployment report is an informational bulletin prepared by a community member that keeps citizens informed about what police do on a weekly basis. Information contained in this report is not to be considered as a media/press release. Any information considered by a media source from this bulletin needs to be verified by an official from the department. This can be done by contacting the media line at 847-866-5026.