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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.

For the Want of a Nap, a Felony Charge 

The only thing missing was a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the bedroom door.

In one of our more unusual incidents so far this year, here is the story of a brave victim and a burglar who made himself right at home.

On March 27, a little after midnight, officers responded to a call of a man with a knife at a residence in the 2200 block of Sherman.

The victim told police that when he returned home, he found his welcome mat missing and the front door unlocked. He couldn’t remember if he locked it, but once inside, he noticed that his laptop wasn’t where he left it and other things had been moved around. His bedroom door was locked, so he pried it open and saw a man lying on his bed with the computer open and a butcher knife next to him.

Our victim quickly grabbed the knife and asked the stranger what he was doing there. The man said a friend had given him a key to the residence, at which point the victim left the room and called 911. When officers arrived, they discovered the suspect still lying on the bed.

The man, who they later discovered had committed a burglary in Lincolnwood the day before, was taken into custody without incident and charged with one count of felony criminal trespass to residence.

Other incidents covered at the Deployment Meeting follow.

Weekly Crime Map

Click to enlarge

Deployment Presentation – April 2, 2025 

Arrest

• Officers responded to a report of a traffic crash on March 30 in the 1700 block of Howard. The driver had struck a parked vehicle, appeared to be intoxicated, and refused a field sobriety test. He was placed under arrest and taken to EPD headquarters, where he blew a .142%. (The legal limit for adults 21 and older in Illinois is 0.08%.)
• On March 27, SOG (Special Operations Group) detectives observed two individuals working on a car in a parking lot in the 2200 block of Oakton. One of the men was wanted for violation of an order of protection and taken into custody.
• SOG detectives received a trespass call regarding a wanted subject fleeing patrol officers in the area near Gaffield and Sherman on March 27. They were able to track the man to the stairwell of a building in the 2200 block of Sherman, where he was seen inhaling a substance using a glass pipe. He resisted arrest but was taken into custody and transported to an area hospital.

Burglary

Garage Burglary - A Giant ATX bike valued at $500 was removed from a garage in the 600 block of Asbury on March 28.

Motor Vehicle Burglary — Vehicles were burglarized at three locations in Beat 74:

• The 100 block of Dodge
• The 1000 block of Darrow, and
• The 1600 block of McDaniel

Residential

• This past week, we had a report of a genuine cat burglar. ‘Cat burglar’ generally describes a thief who can enter second-story windows with the agility of a feline. However, this week, the object missing was the family cat taken; it was later determined by a family member who confessed to the caper. It is not clear whether charges will be pursued.
• Between March 19 and March 30, clothing and jewelry were reported missing from a residence in the 1500 block of Pitner.

Catalytic Converter Theft

Three during this deployment period:

• From a 2008 Honda CRV in the 2100 block of Ridge between March 23 and April 1
• From a 2011 Cadillac in the 2200 block of Green Bay between March 22 and March 31
• From a 2007 Toyota Highlander between March 31 and March 29 in the 2000 block of Sherman

Fleeing & Eluding—In the early morning hours of March 30, an officer observed a 2008 Lexus stolen out of Skokie. He attempted a traffic stop; instead, the driver struck the squad car and put the vehicle in reverse, striking garbage cans, a garage door, and a fence, rendering the Lexus undriveable. The subject was captured after a brief pursuit and taken to the hospital. Later that day, he told detectives that he bought the vehicle for $400 and was aware that it was stolen. He also stated that he had smoked cannabis prior to driving the vehicle that evening. He was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, aggravated fleeing and eluding, misdemeanor DUI, and several traffic offenses.

Graffiti—EPD officers located two juveniles spray painting the Noyes/Green Bay viaduct on March 30. Citations were issued, and the youths were released to their parents.

Motor Vehicle Theft

Attempted Theft

• Unknown subjects attempted to steal a 2024 Volkswagen by peeling its steering column on March 26 in the 1600 block of Emerson.

Recovered

• A vehicle stolen out of Skokie was recovered in the 100 block of Custer on March 30.
• On March 29, a 2013 Toyota Prius reported missing from the 1300 block of Sherman was recovered in an alley.
• SPD (Skokie Police Department) located a crashed Chevy Corvette stolen from the 2100 block of Greenleaf between March 25 and March 26.
• A 2018 Volvo stolen from the 2700 block of Emerson between March 22 and March 23 was located in Skokie on March 31.
• On March 26, SOG (Special Operations Group) detectives observed a stolen 2016 Volkswagen in an alley in the 2100 block of Dewey. Three juveniles exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Detectives have identified two members of the trio.

Theft

• On March 29, an individual known to law enforcement failed to return a borrowed 2016 Toyota RAV4 to an acquaintance. The man has a lengthy criminal history, many of the incidents being domestic-related.

Purse Theft/Pickpocket

On March 31, a victim reported that her wallet was missing after meeting a friend at a restaurant in the 700 block of Church. Security cameras at the establishment captured the suspect at the restaurant and then, on city cameras, leaving Evanston in a gray vehicle. Her credit card was used at a Walgreens location in Skokie. Later that day, the same man took a purse from a woman dining at a restaurant in Skokie. He attempted to use that victim’s credit card in downtown Chicago, but it was declined.

(Females please take note: Purse and wallet thefts continue, with many of the incidents occurring in restaurants where purses are slung on chair backs.)

Weapons Related

Person with a Gun

• On March 26, an individual stated that he was walking in the area of Custer and Oakton when a back seat passenger of a gold sedan pointed a gun at him. Police were unable to locate the vehicle and its passengers.

Shots Fired

• On March 26, units responded to a call of shots fired in the 1300 block of Brummel. The area was checked with negative results.

Random Notes

• Police have been called to several sites where unhoused individuals have set up encampments. The CARE Team has also rendered assistance.
• Keep in mind that 1454 Elmwood is a safe place for small transactions that may have been arranged over social media or the internet. If your buyer or seller doesn’t want to meet at EPD headquarters, there’s probably a good reason.
• The ProduceMobile will be back at the Robert Crown Center from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on April 12.

Inquiring Minds: 2025 IRS Scams and Safety Tips

As the deadline for filing taxes approaches, scammers are increasingly using sophisticated tactics to impersonate the IRS and steal personal or financial information. Seniors are a convenient target.

In 2025, common IRS scams include phishing emails, fake phone calls, fraudulent text messages, and social media scams. Criminals will claim that taxpayers owe back taxes or are entitled to a refund, pressuring them to provide Social Security numbers, bank details, or payment through untraceable methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency.

To stay safe, remember that the IRS almost never initiates contact via email, text, or social media. Official IRS correspondence typically comes through physical mail. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately—do not provide any personal details.

The IRS will not:

• Contact you to take payment on social media.
• Accept gift cards or prepaid debit cards as payment.
• Threaten to call law enforcement or immigration officials.
• Challenge your citizenship status, take your driver’s license or business license, or
• Leave prerecorded robocalls. 

Verify any tax-related communication by contacting the IRS directly or call 877-777-4778. Additionally, you can enable multi-factor authentication on financial accounts, monitor your credit reports, and file your taxes early to prevent fraudsters from filing in your name.

If you suspect an IRS scam, report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) or the Federal Trade Commission(FTC).

EPD reminds you that staying informed and cautious can help you protect yourself from falling victim to tax-related fraud in 2025.

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.