Unlocked Cars Rifled, Cannabis Charges Filed

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

Saturday, May 14

5:55 p.m.: Miguel C. Gonzalez, 18, of Aurora was charged with speeding and possession of cannabis after he was stopped in the 1400 block of Ogden Avenue for traveling 55 mph in a 35 mph zone. Gonzalez denied having a driver's license and verbally gave his name and date of birth to the officer, who noticed an odor of cannabis. A search of Gonzalez's car revealed a plastic bag containing .34 grams of cannabis found under the driver’s seat and a Coca-Cola can with a hidden compartment smelling of cannabis. Gonzalez was also discovered to have a warrant from McLean County

Sunday, May 15

4:43 p.m.: Two counterfeit $20 bills were used at Ultra Foods, 1310 75th St., around 3:26 p.m. according to a manager of the store. Police took the bills and contacted the U.S. Secret Service.

Monday, May 16

9:39 a.m.: Two people reported items taken between 8:30 a.m. and 9:38 a.m. at the Indian Boundary YMCA, 711 59th St. One woman reported finding the lock of her locker open and $20 in cash, credit cards and a bank card missing from the locker. She said a $100 transaction had been made with the bank card. An officer taking the report was approached by another woman who said her iPhone valued at $99.99 was taken from her coat pocket in the locker room.

12:54 p.m.: Airline tickets valued at $7,302.00 were believed to have been fraudulently purchased on May 13 by someone hacking into a computer owned by Grove Travel, 5019 Highland Ave. The tickets were purchased by someone in Africa for two overseas trips. Police said the agency was able to cancel the flights but needed a police report in order to be reimbursed by its insurance carrier.

7:23 p.m.: A car parked in the 4100 block of Saratoga Avenue was scratched and the passenger side tail light was broken between 9 p.m. May 15 and 8:40 a.m. May 16. Police said the scratches along both sides and the back of the car were possibly made from a key. Damage is estimated at $1,500.

8:16 p.m.: Michael M. Wroblewski, 26, of Clarendon Hills was charged with DUI-Drugs, possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia and his passenger Angela V. Severino, 26 of Clarendon Hills was charged with possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia after police were alerted to Wroblewski stumbling when exiting a car at Delta Sonic, 1401 Ogden Ave.

An officer responding saw smoke coming out of the passenger window, noted the odor of cannabis and pulled the car over. After a green leafy substance was on Wroblewski’s pant leg, he was given sobriety tests and handcuffed. Police searched the car and found 6.5 grams of cannabis in a plastic bag along with a pipe under the driver’s seat, and a cannabis cigarette in the ashtray.

Severino admitted to smoking cannabis before and after the car was being washed. A bag containing 8.13 grams of cannabis and a pipe were found in her  purse. Both were charged and released on bond.

Unlocked cars in the same east-side neighborhood were entered during overnight hours:
6:03 a.m.: Entry was made to two unlocked cars in the 4700 block of Elm Street between 10 p.m. May 15 and 5:60 a.m. May 16. Police said the owner noticed the doors ajar in the morning, but nothing was missing from the cars.

7:28 a.m.: An unlocked car in the 4800 block of Bryan Place was entered between 9 p.m. May 15 and 5:30 a.m. May 16. The owner reported nothing was missing, but someone had gone through the glove box. Police found two golf balls in the glove box not belonging to the owner of the car.

9:38 a.m. Two cars in the 800 block of Sheridan were entered between 9 p.m. May 15 and 5:30 a.m. May 16. Doors were left open on both cars and the glove boxes had been rifled. Police said $3 in change was missing from one car.

Tuesday, May 17

4:41 a.m.: Firefighters extinguished fires set in two plastic recycle bins in the 700 block of Chicago Avenue. The homeowner reported having previous problems with someone breaking outside gas lights. The bins were valued at $60.

Wednesday, May 18

11:27 a.m.: A woman came to the police station to report $40 in change and bills were taken from her car in the 6100 block of Leonard Avenue between 9 p.m. May 12 and 9 p.m. May 13. She stated the cars may have been unlocked and money was taken from the center console. Her husband’s car had been entered too, but she was unsure of what may have been missing.

3:30 p.m. A diamond ring valued at $4,000, a gold ring valued at $500 and a coat valued at $160 were reported missing from a residence in the 200 block of Village Drive. The property manager said the owner, who discovered the items missing after not being able to find the ring in a drawer, believes they were taken between Feb. 1 and May 18.

4:41 p.m.: A car was entered while parked in the Downers Grove Parking Deck, 945 Curtiss St., between 5:50 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Police said there were no signs of forced entry, but the owner believes the car was locked. Photos and papers from an overhead organizer were found on the front seat but nothing was reported missing.

11:13 p.m.: A metal railing was damaged in the rear alley of Curtiss Mall, 5117 Main St. A public works employee reported the $250 dollars in damage, but was unsure of when it had occurred.

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.