Woman Lied to About Granddaughter Being Arrested in Mexico

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

Theft Over $500

A woman was contacted on November 17 and told her granddaughter was in jail in Mexico and needed $3,028 to secure her release. The woman told DGPD the call came in from a blocked number of a person claiming to be an attorney in Mexico. The woman said she heard a girl in the background asking for “grandma” to send money. The woman believed it was her granddaughter and agreed to wire the money. The woman later learned all family members were okay and were not in mexico. The money was not transferred.

Criminal Trespass to Vehicle

A complainant told DGPD he went to his wife's unlocked car in their driveway the 800 block of Franklin Avenue on November 19 to get her laptop and noticed the car smelled of smoke and there was cigarette ash on the floorboard. The man stated neither him nor his wife smoke. Nothing was missing from the car but it appeared someone was in it.

Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor

A father brought his daughter into the DGPD at 4 a.m. November 20 after the daughter called her father to pick her up at the Embassy Suites in Lombard at 3:30 a.m.. The daughter was fingerprinted and photographed for the offense of Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor and released to her father.

Fraud

A Downers Grove resident filed a police report in response to unauthorized charges being made on his credit card. Most of the charges were from USPS.com out of Washington D.C..

Lost License Plate

A man in the 20 block of Winthrop Court misplaced his vehicle's temporary plates sometime between November 12 and November 19 when he put the permanent plates on his car and couldn't find the temporary plates to destroy them.

Retail Theft

Debra Rudnik, 51 of 2423 Ogden Avenue in Downers Grove, was charged with retail theft after allegedly attempting to steal food and a frosty the snowman DVD from the Jewel Osco on Ogden Avenue November 18. Rudnik was apprehended after putting the items in her purse and exiting the store.

Possession of Drug Equipment

An officer observed Rafael Rexach, 22 of 1749 Whidden Ave in Downers Grove, make a wide right turn and enter the lane of oncoming traffic at 12:14 a.m. November 17. While conducting a traffic stop, the officer detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana. When searching the vehicle, the officer discovered a read and black pipe. Rexach was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and was also issued a traffic ticket for improper lane usage.

Retail Theft

Sergio Cisneros, 42 of 4349 Whipple in Chicago, was charged a Class 4 Felony for Retail Theft after allegedly attempting to steal video games and remote-controlled cars from the Toys R Us on 75th Street November 17. A Loss Prevention officer at the store observed Cisneros fill his cart with the items, put his jacket on top of the items and eventually exit the store before being confronted by Loss Prevention. Because of the dollar amount of the items Cisneros attempted to steal—which was estimated at over $400—and because of past arrests for retail theft, the charges were bumped up to the Class 4 Felony.

Found property

A woman found a hypodermic needle in the area of Fairview and Burlington on November 18.

Possession of Cannabis 30gm and Under

DGPD responded to a report at Downers North of a student in possession of cannabis. Officers located a small plastic container containing 3.53 grams of marijuana and a homemade pipe made out of a red potato and a straw. The student was processed and charged with one count Possession in violation of village ordinances.

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 Robert.Bykowski@Patch.com so we can follow up on the case.