Crime Report: Chicago Woman loses $6K in scam
August 3, 2012 7:10PM
Updated: September 6, 2012 6:09AM
OAK LAWN
An elderly Chicago woman lost $6,000 July 26 to a pair of con men who involved her in a “pigeon drop” con game, police said.
They said the woman was approached by one of the men at 11:45 a.m. outside Pete’s Fresh Market, 3720 W. 95th St., Evergreen Park, he asked for directions, and the woman agreed to drive him to Kmart, 4101 W. 95th St., Oak Lawn.
When they arrived, the man called to a friend standing in the parking lot to enter the car and play three-card monte, using some cash from the woman, according to police. The woman told police that the men had a large amount of cash, continually talked to confuse her and convinced that she was winning a lot of money in the game.
The men mentioned that they were about to benefit from a large insurance settlement and persuaded the victim to invest $6,000 to get a part of the settlement, police said. They said she drove to her bank, withdrew $6,000 from her checking account and gave it to one of the men, who appeared to put the money in a paper bag and place it in the trunk of the woman’s car.
The men then told the woman to wait in her car while they went into Kmart to get more cash from an ATM, police said, but they did not return and the bag in the trunk contained wads of newspaper.
Bob Rakow
OAK FOREST
A real party crasher
An Oak Forest man was charged with drunken driving after he drove his car through a block party July 28, nearly striking a disc jockey booth and child on a tricycle, according to police.
They said Albert S. Smith, 48, 16468 George Drive, also was charged with reckless driving, resisting police and not having insurance after he was arrested in the 4400 block of Lisa Lane.
Police said officers arrived at the block party about 11:25 p.m. and found Smith in his car surrounded by several angry neighbors. A witness told police that Smith drove through the block party about 40 minutes earlier and nearly struck several adults and children before stopping.
Other witnesses said Smith appeared incoherent and tried to resume driving, but a resident reached into the car, placed it in park and took the keys. That angered Smith who argued with the residents until officers arrived, police said.
Bob Rakow
TINLEY PARK
Car burglar
interrupted
A village resident got into a struggle July 23 with a man whom he saw rummaging through his car in the 17800 block of Elmwood Drive, police said.
The resident said he was jogging on his block when he saw the man in his car and yelled at him, causing the burglar to get out of the car and take two swings at him.
Police said the car owner began fighting with the man, who broke free and ran away, losing his shirt in the struggle. He stole a leather wallet that contained business cards, police said.
Bob Rakow
Rap show robbery
A concert patron was punched in the eye and robbed July 27 during a concert at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, 19100 Ridgeland Ave., police said.
The 18-year-old woman told police that she was in the outdoor theater’s lawn area during the Wiz Khalifa concert when a fight broke out about 10 p.m.
A crowd gathered around the combatants, and a man struck her in the right eye with his fist, according to police. They said the man fled after forcibly taking a small wallet attached to her wrist that contained $37 cash, keys, cigarettes and a bottle of perfume.
Bob Rakow
Lot of trouble
A Chicago man was charged with battery and resisting police after a July 28 disturbance in the downtown Metra station parking lot, police said.
They said Mark J. Kimzey, 23, approached an occupied car in the lot, 6682 South St., about 2 a.m. and began spitting on it.
The owner of car got out and confronted Kimzey, who hit him several times in the face, according to police.
They said Kimzey then walked to a nearby tavern, where he was later arrested.
Bob Rakow
