Friday Blotter: Brazen Thefts at Jewel Store

The Des Plaines Police Department provided the following reports. In all incidents where an arrest occurred, a charge is merely an accusation and not evidence of guilt. The arrested person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Attempted Burglary
Police responded to a missing juvenile report in the 2000 block of South Ash Street on Aug. 14. While at the scene, police were informed about possible damage to the outer door of a laundry room in the 2000 block of South Pine Street. The laundry room had been burglarized several times in the past few months, police were told.

Police reported a screw on the protective plate of the doorknob was partially removed and other suspicious damage. The description of a possible suspect was provided.

He was described as man, about 18 years old, 5-foot-8 and with a thin built. The suspect was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt when he was spotted walking in the area before police arrived. He eventually left the scene southbound through Apache Park.

'Town Drunk' Arrested
Police responded to a report of an intoxicated man acting aggressive at the train depot in the 1500 block of Miner Street on Aug. 12. According to the report, a man told police he, his wife and 4-month old son were waiting for a bus when Joseph Nathan Sykes of Des Plaines attempted to touch the child who was in a stroller.

The father blocked Sykes, 55, from doing so, which set him into a rant. Before he left the scene, Sykes, who the dad described as the "town drunk," yelled, "F*** you, I'm gonna kill you."

Police located Sykes sitting in front of the liquor store in the 1400 block of Ellinwood Street. He appeared intoxicated and smelled of alcohol, police reported. They told him that signs were posted in the train station to warn guests that the train station is only for paying customers of public transportation.

Sykes was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespass to property. He has a court date on Sept. 1.

Theft
Police responded to a theft report in the 1600 block of South Cora Street on Aug. 12. According to the report, police were told about someone putting wood into a red vehicle in the dead-end alley behind houses. A 30 feet by 2 feet section of wood was reported removed from near the shed of a residence. The homeowner said wood and landscaping boulders had been taken from her property within the last year, but the incidents were not reported to police.

Retail Theft
Police were dispatched regarding a reported retail theft at the Jewel grocery store in the 800 block of South Elmhurst Road on Aug. 14. According to the report, police were told that a man walked out of the store with a shopping basket filled with items that were not bagged. The man threw the basket into his vehicle, which was parked in the fire lane in front of the store, and exited the area by traveling westbound on Dempster Street.

The offender was described as a white male, about 6 feet tall and about 180 pounds. He wore a baseball cap and had a tattoo on his neck.

Police were given a possible license plate number, and store personnel said they would provide a copy of surveillance video.

Retail Theft
A retail theft was reported at the Jewel grocery store in the 800 block of South Elmhurst Road on Aug. 12. According to the report, an employee from the store told police while standing outside the building on her break, she saw a man exit the store carrying six bottles of Kettle One vodka in a shopping basket. The man put the items in the trunk if his vehicle, which was parked in the fire lane, at which time the employee asked the man to produce a receipt.

The man, described as of Middle Eastern descent, 20-30 years old, wearing black jean shorts, said, "Yeah, I got one, hold on." He then got in the vehicle and fled northbound on Elmhurst Road.

The employee provided police with a license plate number and store personnel said they would provide police with a copy of surveillance video.

Auto Part Theft
A man reported to police that he parked his vehicle on the third floor of the parking garage at 648 Metropolitan Way at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 12. When he returned to the garage at 1:45 p.m. and started his vehicle, he heard a loud noise coming from underneath it. He assumed it was a hole in the muffler and drove it to Golf Mill Ford in Niles. A service employee told him the catalytic converter, valued at $650, was cut off his vehicle.

Criminal Trespass to Property
A trespassing report drew police to the 900 block of Rand Road on Aug. 13. According to the report, an unidentified caller told police she saw a woman laying down on the railroad tracks. Upon their arrival, police found Cynthia Anne York, 47, standing on the railroad tracks.

While in custody, a police check discovered that York had an extraditable warrant out of the Cook County Sheriff's Office. She was charged with criminal trespass to property, and has a court date on Aug. 31.

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