Woman loses $20,000 in phone scam

A 44-year-old BG woman told police she lost $20,000 in a phone scam where the caller stated there was a warrant for her arrest. The woman told police she was instructed to go to her bank and withdraw $10,000 and then go to a currency exchange in Arlington Heights and deposit $5,000 in a bit coin digital wallet. She was then told to go to a second location in Arlington Heights and repeat the process. Police reports say the woman was then instructed to go back to her bank and withdraw another $10,000 and go to a bit coin digital wallet at the Corner Bakery at Northbrook Court. The woman said the caller, who posed as a Social Security police officer, kept her on the phone for six hours.

No way to buy a car: A Midlothian man was charged with possession of a fraudulent Illinois Identification card, unlawful use of a License and obstructing justice/identification on Aug. 22. Police say the man was attempting to purchase a 2016 Mercedes from a dealer in the 0-100 block of Dundee Road. An employee at the dealership became suspicious when the man produced an I.D. that said his birthdate was 1978. The employee thought he looked older (he is actually 59).

Not the intent of self-service: Police were summoned to a gas station in the 200 block of Milwaukee Ave, for a report of an unwanted subject. The employee, a 24-year-old woman, called police saying the customer, a 50-year-old male, touched “her butt” and followed her around the store. The person in question told police he is a “regular customer” at the station. The man told police that he has had numerous conversations with the employee and that she was flirtatious with him and had asked him out in the past. He said he told her he wasn’t interested and said he thinks she called 9-1-1 as a way to retaliate against him.

On the day of the incident, the man told police he wanted a slice of pizza but since the station did not have any, they offered to make a fresh whole pizza for him. The man admitted to using complimentary and flirtatious words toward the female employee, but denied touching her. According to reports, the man said he asked the employee about her “tight fitting” pants and the stitching on the pockets. The man did, however, admit to, according to police reports, being “curious about the material of the pants.”

Intoxication leads to ticket: A Buffalo Grove man received an adjudication ticket for disorderly conduct after he was allegedly intoxicated in Windsor Ridge Park. When police arrived, he allegedly became agitated and was resistant to officers “efforts to calm him down”. At one point, police reports say, he told officers to “f**k off” and swung his arm toward one of the responding officers at which time he told them to “arrest him.”

Trash talkin’: A company reported people dumping garbage in their dumpster. After retrieving address information from the dumpster, police contacted the residents who said they were out of town and it may have been their children. The couple agreed to pay the fee for any extra expense by the company and may have bawled their kids out and told them “never to be seen drivin' garbage around in the vicinity again.”

Trash talkin’ part 2: A representative of the management company for a shopping strip center reported people dumping garbage in the center’s dumpster. Police thought they had the address, but found a lock box on the address found in the dumpster.

Tires reported slashed: A vehicle in the 900 block of Lucinda had three of its four tires slashed.

Cash, items stolen from restaurant: Police are investigating a report of a theft from a local restaurant including $5,380 in USC, with kitchen knives worth $150 each and a food processor worth $1,800. The restaurant’s owner speculates that a consultant from the Ukraine may be involved.

Cars reported stolen: A resident in the 0-100 block of Jardin Court reported her car stolen Aug. 22. She said she retrieved some items from the car at around midnight, but the car was gone at 8 a.m. the next day. The woman said she left the car’s proximity key in the car. Another resident in the same block reported his car stolen on Aug. 22. He recalls seeing his vehicle at 10 p.m., but said it was missing the next morning. He told police he left his key inside the unlocked car.

Stupid is as stupid does: Buffalo Grove police wrote one ticket for driving on a revoked license, one ticket for driving without a license, one ticket for driving without wearing a seatbelt, three tickets for driving without insurance, two tickets for transporting or possessing open liquor in a vehicle, two tickets for using an electronic device, one ticket for possession of drug paraphernalia – and 10 tickets for DUI.

Excuse of the week

During a traffic stop, a motorist who was clocked for doing 63 in a 45-mph zone produced an Illinois ID card instead of a license. He reportedly told police,” Oh, I’m sorry. I apologize. I thought it was my driver’s license.”. To make matters worse, police reports say the man’s “shirt was not buttoned fully and he zipper on his pants was down.”

Community News

BG Days in high gear

The 61^st annual Buffalo Grove Days festival is under way. A complete schedule and details is located at BGdays.com.

History a huge part of five-day festival

There’s more to Buffalo Grove Days than just music, food and rides. What started as a steer roast and block party has morphed into a five-day festival coordinated by a committee of 40 dedicated volunteers.

Buffalo Grove Stampede Sunday

The Buffalo Grove Stampede 5K/10K Race and Walk is Sunday at 7:30 a.m. at the Buffalo Grove Park District Fitness Center and is hosted by the Buffalo Grove Friends of the Parks Foundation. For more information or to register, click here. There will be a number of road closures due to the Stampede including between 5 and 10 a.m. including: eastbound Deerfield Parkway from McHenry Road (Rt. 83) to Buffalo Grove Road and McHenry Road (Rt. 83) between Deerfield Parkway and Buffalo Grove Road. Old Checker Road, Farrington Drive, Shady Grove Lane, Silver Rock Lane and Springside Lane will also be closed during this event. Maps of the routes, and registration information can be found here.  Call Brian O'Malley at 847-353-7529 or email at bomalley@bgparks.org for more information.

Community blood drive Saturday

The Buffalo Grove Community Blood Drive will take place this from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday at the Alcott Center. The entire blood donation process takes approximately one hour, and donors are required to provide an ID. Please prepare for donations by eating well and staying hydrated. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended. To make an appointment, call 877-258-4825 or visit vitalant.org.

Woodman’s gas expansion proposed

Motorists who buy gas at Woodman’s, but do not like the occasional wait, may have relief in the future. Woodman’s presented a proposal for a second 10-pump self-serve gas station on the south side of Deerfield Parkway at the Aug. 19 Village Board meeting.

Speaking of gas…it may cost more in Buffalo Grove

In order to keep up with the cost of road improvements, the Buffalo Grove Village Board is weighing a 4-cent a gallon gas tax. Village officials says the idea is not unique and is fairly common in neighboring communities.

New addition opens at Stevenson

A new $27-million addition greeted Stevenson High School students when school opened for the 2019-2020 school year. The addition includes classrooms, meeting spaces and a greenhouse, in addition to a cafeteria with “enhanced options” for student diners.

Labor Day crackdown targets traffic scofflaws

As Illinois drivers celebrate the Labor Day weekend, the Buffalo Grove Police Department is in the midst of a traffic safety campaign focusing on drunk, unbuckled, and distracted drivers.

“Our goal is to help ensure our community’s residents and visitors make it home safely after the party ends,” Buffalo Grove Police Sergeant Michelle Kondrat. “We’ll be out in force to keep impaired drivers off the roads. If you’ll be celebrating, we urge you to plan ahead for a sober ride. It could be a matter of life or death.”

The Buffalo Grove Police department is partnering with the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement agencies across Illinois for the increased statewide effort. The high-visibility crackdown runs through Sept. 3.

The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is funded by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

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Police probe tobacco shop break-in

Police are investigating a burglary at Smokehut in the 1100 Block of Lake-Cook Road. The break-in was discovered by a Waste Management driver who contacted police after noticing a side window at the store was broken. Among the items reported missing, totaling more than $4,200, were in $2,200 in JUUL products and $2,025 in regular tobacco products.

Damage to the window was estimated at $1,500.

Run for the border – An employee at Taco Bell was defrauded of $1,200 from the store’s safe after she received a phone call by a person who said he was her supervisor. After ascertaining how much money was in the safe, the caller instructed the employee to go to a nearby CVS and send a Western Union MoneyGram to him in Mexico. The woman did and then called her supervisor who told her it was fraud and told her to call police.

Items stolen from construction site -- A contractor reported that a bag of personal items was apparently take from a site he was working on. Items missing included assorted clothing, $400 in cash, a credit card, debit card, a driver’s license and an Uzbekistan passport.

Not quite a Bert Weinman TV special -- A man listed his 2014 Mercedes for sale and was able to sell it to a man who was willing to pay the $47,000 asking price with payment made by a Wells Fargo Cashier’s check. The sale was completed and the seller, a Buffalo Grove man, soon learned that the check was, police reports say, “fictitious”. The seller declined to have police contact the purchaser or enter the car into Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS). The seller told police he was going to try and resolve the situation by himself. He may need more than an extended warranty.

Stupid is, stupid does

Among the traffic violations cited by Buffalo Grove police during the past week, seven were for Driving Under the Influence (DUI), four for driving on a suspended or revoked license, two for not wearing a seat belt and one for driving without a license. To paraphrase Sgt. Esterhaus– “Let’s be smart out there”.

Excuses of the week

Bet Alexa wouldn’t have done this -- When asked about his erratic driving, a man’s passenger said it was because “Google told them to turn”. Was the device hands free?

But did he see Klinger? – A man told police said he was speeding because he was coming from work in Toledo and trying to get to Buffalo Grove. Do you blame him?

Community News

Complete BG Days schedule set

The complete schedule for Buffalo Grove Days is available at BGDAYS.COM. The festival begins on Wednesday with the Richard Drazner Charity Softball game, which starts at 6 p.m. A detailed look at Buffalo Grove Days can be found at here.

NCH medical site plan gets OK

Plans for development of a new Northwest Community Hospital medical building received Board approval Monday night. The plan also includes 4,900 square feet of retail space.

Rotary Club honors Drazner

The Buffalo Grove Rotary Club honored the late Richard Drazner posthumously presenting him its Bill Reid Community Service Award. Drazner died suddenly in April at age 58.

Street closures set for 5k, 10k races

The Buffalo Grove Park District's Friends of the Parks Foundation will host its annual 5K and 10K race, the Buffalo Grove Stampede, on Sunday, Sept. 1. The race begins and ends at the Buffalo Grove Park District Fitness Center, 601 W. Deerfield Parkway in Buffalo Grove.

The Race starts at 7:30 a.m. and concludes around 9:30 a.m.

Several streets will be closed to traffic during this race, including eastbound Deerfield Parkway from McHenry Road (Ill. Rt. 83) to Buffalo Grove Road (from 5 -10 a.m.), McHenry Road (Ill. Rt. 83) between Deerfield Parkway and Buffalo Grove Road, Old Checker Road, Farrington Drive, Shady Grove Lane, Silver Rock Lane and Springside Lane. Maps of the routes, as well as registration information can be found at bgstampede.org. For more information, contact Brian O’Malley at 847.353.7529 or bomalley@bgparks.org.

Fitness center plan moves ahead

A plan for a 24-hour fitness center at Dundee and Buffalo Grove roads moved a step closer to reality when the Village Board granted a rezoning and special use permit. The site was previously home to a Kohl’s grocery store and Dominick’s food store as well as a Rogan’s shoe store. Rogan’s left the center in 2013.

BG Days charity softball game honor Drazner

For the last 25 years, BG Days has kicked off with a charity softball game. This year’s game, scheduled for Aug. 28, will be the first to honor Rick Drazner, the late Park Board member who died suddenly in April.

The Rick Drazner Memorial Softball Game will feature teams from the Park District and the Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire Area Chamber of Commerce in the first game, and the winner will play the 2018 championship team, the Village of Buffalo Grove. The benefiting charity is the Friends of the Parks Foundation. Click here for more information.

Officers to get tanked at BG Days

Residents will have the opportunity to benefit Special Olympics Illinois by dunking a cop on Aug. 31 from noon until 7 p.m. This event takes place in the Buffalo Grove Police tent near the main stage. All proceeds will benefit Special Olympics Illinois.

Cops set to ‘serve time’ and burgers

The 'Butterburgers and Badges' fundraiser will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on August 29 at the Buffalo Grove Culver's, 450 McHenry Road.

This event will raise funds for Special Olympics Illinois. Police officers will serve customers inside the restaurant and in the drive thru, where they will be accepting 'tips' to donate to Special Olympics Illinois. For every concrete mixer purchased, $1 will also be donated to the organization.

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Cops probe rash of vehicle break-ins

Buffalo Grove police are investigating seven break-ins to motor vehicles in the past week including a series of four that occurred overnight on Aug. 12 – 13.

Police say a resident in the 0 – 100 block of Oak Creek Drive reported two windows were broken on his car.  The only thing reported missing was a small amount of currency. While investigating this incident, police report they spotted another car with similar damage.  No items were reported missing.

Police reports say a third vehicle, also parked in the 0 – 100 block of Oak Creek Drive, was damaged while parked.  In this incident, police say the driver’s side window was broken and the license plate damaged. The resident said a mobile dash-cam video camera was stolen. A fourth vehicle was also reported broken into with a side window smashed.  The resident said a radar detector was taken, but her purse was left on the front seat with nothing taken out of it.

Another break-in to a vehicle occurred, police say, in the 400 block of Covington Terrace. Entry was gained by thieves breaking the driver’s side window.  A radar detector and dash camera were taken.

Police reports say that a resident on Miller Lane said his car was burgled and several items were taken including sunglasses, a skateboard and basketballs. The resident told police he saw several boys playing with the skateboard at a nearby park. They denied they stole it and the resident was able to reclaim the item. Police also report the car was left unlocked.

In another vehicle related break-in, a resident reported to police that her car was broken into while in her driveway.  The resident told police that the car was parked outside overnight, and when the woman went to leave for work the next morning she realized she could not find her purse and car keys, telling police that they much have been left in the car and were stolen. Another resident reported a radar detector was taken from his car. Police reports say the car was entered by breaking out the right front window.

Hungry thieves – Police were summoned to the Bucky’s in the 1200 block of McHenry Road in response to a theft of four slices of pizza and three packs of cigarettes.  It was the second such incident in two weeks.

The ‘purse-suit’ of detail – A guest at the Sheraton Four Points on Lake-Cook Road became irate when the purse she thought was left in her room was missing. She told hotel management the purse was left on a bed in her room. Police, with the assistance of the hotel manager, found the purse – underneath the bed the woman said she had left it on.

But did they have to pay $50 and pick up the garbage? – A Buffalo Grove plumbing contractor told police that a black Mercedes parked near the dumpster on his property and dumped garbage into the dumpster. A label on a box thrown into the dumpster led police to a Lincolnshire residence where the vehicle owner lived.  Police showed her the surveillance video at which time the resident admitted to throwing the garbage into the dumpster.  She said she would remove the garbage. She was cited with a village ordinance for illegal dumping and the judge wasn’t going to look at the 27 eight-by-ten color glossy photographs with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one was.

There must be a trend here – The owner of a business in the 1500 block of Barclay Blvd. reported that a woman was observed dumping garbage into the company’s dumpster. The business owner found a label that led them to – ready – a Lincolnshire residence.  The woman said the complex association where she lives charges too much to have ‘additional garbage’ picked up.  No information about her vehicle was provided.  The woman said she would remove the garbage. She was charged with a village ordinance for illegal dumping.  Reports did not say if her fingerprints were somewhere in Washington enshrined in some little folder.

Stupid is, Stupid does -- Police report there was one arrest for driving while under the influence and three for driving on a revoked or suspended license.

Community News

Village Board weighs gas tax

On the heels of a 19-cent increase in the state gas tax, the Village Board is considering a recommendation from village staff to institute a 4-cent per gallon gas tax to help offset the cost street maintenance and repairs.

Water rate hike may loom soon

Citing the aging infrastructure of the village’s water transmission system, Village Trustees were told at their Aug. 5 Committee of the Whole meeting that a 37 percent rate increase could be in the cards.

Village Board meeting Monday

The Village Board will have a regular monthly meeting beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Monday in the Jeffrey Braiman Council chambers. The agenda can be found here.

Buffalo Grove Days shuttle routes set

The shuttle bus to Buffalo Grove Days includes new locations in the Cook County portion of the village.

Stops this year include:

·          Bus #1 - 50 Raupp Blvd - South Route (Village Hall)

·          Bus #1 - 935 Dundee Rd - South Route empty car dealer lot with plenty of parking at both locations.

·          Bus #2 - Twin Groves Jr. High - North Route

·          Bus #3 – Buffalo Grove Metra Station - East Route

All parking lots are free and all three bus routes, organizers say, go to the festival location.

Buffalo Grove Days is Aug. 28 through Sept. 2. The event includes the BG Days Parade, car show and art show, business fair and nonprofit showcase.

A variety of live entertainment is also scheduled, including a performance by a Queen tribute band.  There will also be BBQ challenge and carnival. Events, including Buddy Baseball and the Food and Fun Program are available for residents with disabilities.

Full information is available at BGDays.com.

Berman honored by Park Board

The Buffalo Grove Park District Board of Directors honored retired Village Board Trustee Jeffrey Berman Aug. 12 for his service to the community.

Jeffrey Berman

A resolution adopted by the Park Board touts Berman’s “distinguished career in public service” that included serving as the Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, Citizens to Protect Quality of Life Through Better Transportation (1999 - 2004); the Village Representative to the Lake County Transportation Improvement Project (1999 - 2003); the Metropolitan Mayors' Caucus Transportation Task Force as a Representative of the Lake County Municipal League (2002 - 2004); serving on the Board of Directors, Lake County Transportation Alliance (2012 - 2019); as a Member of Metra Citizens Advisory Board, representing Lake County (2010 - 2013); as well as the Chairman, of the Metra Citizens Advisory Board representing Lake County (2011 - 2013).

The resolution also commends Berman “on behalf of the Buffalo Grove Park District for his tireless and distinguished service transforming the Village of Buffalo Grove into a vibrant and sustainable community for generations to come.”

Buffalo Grove student gets Columbia College grant

Jennifer Pollack, of Buffalo Grove, will find paying tuition bills at Chicago’s Columbia College a bit easier, thanks to a $12,000 grant she received from the school.

Park District to host reception for artist

The Buffalo Grove Park District will host an art reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday for former Park Board Commissioner Karen Meadows, at the Hyman and Miriam Reiner Art Gallery in the Fitness Center at the Buffalo Grove Park District.   Meadows was on the Park Board during the planning stages of the Fitness Center, and saw an opportunity to provide a space where local artists could share their work with the public; and, at the same time, create a visual space somewhat unique to a fitness center.  Since its opening, the gallery has hosted Buffalo Grove and Stevenson High School art students, prominent local artists, and annually the drawing and painting students from the Buffalo Grove Park District classes taught by Enid Silverman. 

The public is welcome to view the exhibit at the Fitness Center through August 30 during regular operating hours. For more information, contact Debbie Fandrei at (847) 850-2148 or dfandrei@bgparks.org.

Got News?

If you have news about your club, school, church, synagogue or other community organization, please submit news, information and story ideas to BuffaloGroveNews@Gmail.com.  Articles should include a contact name email and phone number. Commentary articles are also welcome.  They should be limited to 350 words and should include contact information as noted above. All submissions may be edited for style, spelling, and libelous content. Questions about B.G. News & Info. should be sent to BuffaloGroveNews@Gmail.com.

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