Three Cited for Selling Tobacco to Minors

The following incidents and arrests were reported by the Downers Grove Police Department:

Friday, Feb. 18

11:36 a.m.: David W. Nelson, 24, of Downers Grove was charged with felony retail theft and misdemeanor battery after allegedly taking four rolls of electrical wire valued at $240 from Home Depot, 2000 Butterfield Road.

A loss prevention employee said he became suspicious of Nelson because he was carrying a book bag and didn’t look at the rolls of wire before placing them in his cart. When he attempted to leave the store, the employee noticed his book bag looked fuller.

The employee checked, but did not find, the wire in the cart or the another aisle visited by Nelson. Police said the employee stopped Nelson outside of the store and Nelson offered to return the wire, but refused to come back into the store, according to the report. Nelson attempted to push past the employee and a struggle followed. An unknown witness assisted the employee and called police.  

Monday, Feb. 21

10:55 a.m.: A car's tire was damaged in the 1100 block of Hobart Avenue between 10 p.m. Feb. 20 and 7:15 a.m. Feb. 21. Police said the wall of the tire had been struck with a sharp object while the car was in the driveway. Cost of a replacement tire is estimated at $195.

3:19 p.m.: A purse valued at $20 was reported stolen from a car at Omega Restaurant and Pancake House, 1300 Ogden Ave. between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. An employee who had parked her car in the rear lot was alerted by a customer that a window on the car had been broken. Police said the driver side window had been broken and the purse was taken from the back seat of the car. Damage is estimated at $200.

3:28 p.m.: Adam Garcia, 23, of Chicago was charged with retail theft after allegedly taking a laser pointer valued at $29 from Fry’s Electronics, 3300 Finley Road. An employee observed Garcia on cameras remove the laser pointer from the packaging and place it in his pocket. Police said Garcia paid for an HDMI cable and coke before being stopped by the employee when he exited the store.

Tuesday, Feb. 22

6:33 a.m.: Items valued at $1,200 were taken from an unlocked car in the 7200 block of Kelly Place between 8 p.m. Feb. 21 and 6:30 a.m. Feb. 22. A Blackberry cell phone valued at $300, Tommy Bahama prescription sunglasses valued at $350, Polo prescription glasses valued at $200 and music CD’s valued at $150 were taken from the center console and a briefcase and calculator valued at $200 were taken from the back seat.

11:08 a.m.: A front license plate valued at $110 was reported missing from a car parked at Corridors II, 2655 Warrenville Road. Police said the owner of the car was not sure where the license plate was removed, but believed it happened while parked at this location sometime between Feb. 18 and Feb. 21.

4:27 p.m.: Police conducting tobacco compliance checks on 38 businesses issued village ordinance citations to three individuals after they sold tobacco to a minor acting as an agent for the Downers Grove Police. David Z. Johnson, 19, of Westmont was issued a citation at Walgreens, 6240 Belmont Road, Raghbir Singh, 49, of Addison was issued a citation at DG Foodmart, 2027 Ogden Ave., and Kerelous Y Fhmy, 19, of Justice was issued a citation at Speedway, 5004 Fairview Ave.

9:40 p.m.: Drue P. Lollis, 55, of Bolingbrook was charged with retail theft after allegedly taking items valued at $410 from Fry’s Electronics, 3300 Finley Road. An employee observed Lollis on camera taking items from shelves and motioning as if putting the items into his jacket. The employee found empty packages when he checked the areas. Police said Lollis paid for a book before being stopped by the employee as he exited the store. Items allegedly taken by Lollis were: a Platronics Bluetooth headset, a flashlight, two LED keychains, an HDMI adapter, one LED flashlight, a USB cable, Microsoft software, Turbotax software, Norton software and a USB Sync.  

Wednesday, Feb. 23

6:54 a.m.: Craftsman automotive tools and toolbox valued at $1,750 were taken from a resident’s storage locker in the 5400 block of Walnut Avenue between 9 p.m. Feb. 17 and 8 a.m. Feb. 22. Police said the storage unit lock was intact but access could have been made through a two-foot gap between the mesh wall of the locker and the ceiling.

8:57 a.m.: A resident in the 4700 block of Belmont Road reported $10 in cash was taken from a file cabinet in his garage. The resident discovered the locking mechanism broken and scratch marks on top of both drawers of the cabinet on Feb. 22. Police said the resident kept extra cash, credit cards and checks in the cabinet, but only the $10 was missing. No damage was noted on the garage door, but scratch marks were discovered on the wood frame, according to the report.

11 a.m.: Black spray paint was used to write the word “Cult” on a corner of the Moose Lodge, 1030 Warren Ave., between 11 a.m. Feb. 16 and 10 a.m. Feb. 22. An e-mail about the graffiti was sent to police by a nearby business. Police said the lodge was aware of the vandalism. Clean up costs were estimated at $25.

11:48 a.m.: A theft of $300 from coin-operated machines, believe to have occurred Jan. 23, was reported by Marriott Suites, 1500 Opus Pl. An employee of the hotel discovered the master key locks had been picked, breaking the locking mechanisms on the machines. Police said employees collect money monthly from the machines, which are located on floors two through seven of the hotel.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity in our town, using information provided by official agencies. Persons charged with a crime or issued a citation for violation of a local ordinance are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you or a family member are charged with a crime or cited for a violation and the charge or citation is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor of this Patch at elaine@Patch.com so we can follow up on the case.