Buffalo Grove Report: October 2020

Oct 26, 2020

State COVID restrictions to impact Cook County portion of Buffalo Grove

( The Police reports are included with this edition)

Restrictions spelled out by the announcement by Gov. J. B. Pritzker Oct. 26 that Region 10, which includes Cook County, will have a direct impact on Buffalo Grove.

The Governor's order, which goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, affects bars and/or restaurants, gaming and casinos, and social gatherings or meetings in the Cook County portion of Buffalo Grove.

The highlights include:

Bars and Restaurants, Gaming and Casinos

** No indoor service is allowed at bars and/or restaurants.

** Reservations for outdoor service are required.

** Tables outside should be 6 feet apart.

** Outside bar service and dining ends at 11 p.m.

** Multiple parties cannot be seated at the same table.

** Gaming and casinos must close by 11 p.m., are limited to 25-percent capacity and must also follow mitigation guidelines for bars and restaurants, when applicable.

Social Gatherings/Meetings/Social Events

** All gatherings are limited to 25 guests or less, or 25-percent of overall room capacity.

** Party buses are not permitted to transport guests.

In regard to residents attending Village Board meetings in person, Village Manager Dane Bragg said “At this time, we are still planning to allow in-person attendance. We implemented contingency plans for the last Board meeting as we anticipated this was coming.”

At this time, the Governor has not issued mitigation measures for Region 9, which includes the Lake County portion of Buffalo Grove. The measures do not impact schools.

Community News

Trick or Treat guidelines set

Even though trick-or-treating is being discouraged by the village due to the pandemic, it has issued a series of guidelines. Trick-or-treat hours are 3 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. The full list of guidelines can be found here.

Village honors Rick Kahen

At its Oct. 19 meeting, the Village Board honored the late Rick Kahen by renaming the Commission for Residents with Disabilities the Rick Kahen Commission for Residents with Disabilities. According to the Daily Herald, Kahen, who died Sept. 4, joined the commission in 1994, two years after it was created. He went on to serve a lengthy tenure as the panel's chairman.

First responders honored

Firefighter/Paramedic Gary Steadman (top photo) was honored with the Firefighter of the Year award. Sergeant Tony Montiel, (middle photo) was named Police Officer of the year while Investigator Brian Hansen received a special commendation.

Buffalo Grove Police Sergeant Tony Montiel was honored as the 2020 Police Officer of the year and Investigator Brian Hansen received a Special Commendation Award while Firefighter/Paramedic Gary Steadman was honored as the Firefighter of the Year award during the Oct. 19 Village Board meeting. The awards were presented on behalf of the Buffalo Grove Rotary Club.

Outsourcing for some DPW work OK’d

Don’t be surprised if some of the public works projects in your neighborhood are being done by outsiders. That’s because the Village Board approved outsourcing agreements with firms that will handle, notes the Daily Herald, some tree trimming, maintenance of the ‘fire fleet’ and snow removal at the Metra and other village parking lots.

Free face coverings available

The village, in cooperation with Vernon Township, is offering free face covers to residents.

The coverings are available by request and can be picked up at the service window outside of Village Hall, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Residents can 847-459-2500 to ensure availability.

Free face covers are also available at the Vernon Township Administration Center, 3050 N Main Street. Residents should call 847-634-4600 to arrange a pick up and to check availability.

The complimentary covers will be provided to any resident of Buffalo Grove or Vernon Township residents while supplies last.

Library offering trivia for kids

The Indian Trails Public Library District is holding a “Trivia Challenge for Kids” from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4. This live Zoom program is for participants who are in third through fifth grade. Go to this link for registration.

Police Reports

** FORGERY – A Chicago woman was charged with one count of forgery after she tried paying for a gift-card purchase at the Walgreens store at 15 N. Buffalo Grove Road with a counterfeit $100 bill. According to reports, when the woman was told the bill was bogus, she left the store. Walgreen employees contacted police with a description of the woman and the car in which she was a passenger. Police located the car and the woman who still had the $100 bill in her pocket.

** CAR STOLEN – Police report the theft of an auto in the 100 block of St. Marys Parkway. Reports say the car, a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was parked and left running with the keys inside in the driveway. A home surveillance camera recorded, police say, two males exiting a “dark colored SUV” and entering the Cherokee and driving off.

** BB SHOTS -- A resident in the 400 block of Raymond Road reported to police that three windows on the rear side of their home were damaged, apparently by BB pellet. Reports say a small round silver ball that appeared similar to a BB was observed trapped between the screen and glass of a window.

** PURSE MISSING – A woman told police that her purse was taken from her vehicle. The contents included a driver's license, Social Security card and multiple credit/debit cards. Reports says the woman dropped her child off at the school shortly before 8 a.m. on Oct. 16. The woman told police she drove to work and then realized her purse was gone. She told police she attempted to track her phone via her husband's cell phone and it was traced to a retirement facility in Long Grove The management there was unable to locate the phone. The phone was turned off shortly after and was unable to be tracked.

** LIQUOR THEFT -- Officials at the Jewel-Osco on McHenry Road reported the alleged theft of a Jack Daniels gift pack, Absolute Vodka gift pack and an unknown bottle of alcohol. The estimated total of the Jack Daniels and Absolute was set at $42.98.

** HOOP SCHEMES? – Police report that they were summoned to an apartment complex on Easton Court in regard to a noise complaint. Reports say a neighbor was upset with her neighbors because their teenage boys play basketball inside on a basketball hoops the neighbors is set up in their office. The complaining neighbor told police that the noise “shakes” the common wall between units making it difficult for her family to watch TV or for her kids to do their homework. So why don’t the neighbors play basketball outside? Good question. According to reports, the basketball-loving neighbors said, “They said they have an outside basketball hoop but the association and neighbors are fighting them on using it due to the noise and the negative image for the neighborhood.”

** BIKE SWIPED – A resident in the 1200 block of Deerfield Parkway reported to police that a bike was stolen from the hallway outside their apartment. The bike was valued at $200.

** YARD MAINTENANCE TOOLS STOLEN – A landscaping contractor working in the 100 block of Lexington Drive reported that a back-pack leaf blower and hedge trimmer valued at $450 was taken while they worked on the property.

** ONLINE THEFT – A resident reported to police that $307 was apparently taken from his PayPal account. The resident said his account revealed a purchase for audio equipment that he did not make.

** CARRY OUT ORDER REFUSED – A resident said he placed a carry-out order with a restaurant in the 0-50 block of Raupp Boulevard, but did not accept the order when he went to pick it up after noticing, because according to reports, “the cooks and other employees were not wearing face masks.” The resident said the manager told him “his employees don't (sic) have to wear a mask, because they live in the same household.” Upon checking, police found that the cooks and bartender were not wearing face masks. The restaurant management was told they had to wear face masks. The incident was reported to the Health Department.

** WIRE THEFT — A contractor working on the Weiland Road construction project reported that 3,500 feet of copper wire was taken from street light bases. The wire was valued at $7,500.

** TRAFFIC BUSTS – In cases of “stupid is as stupid does,” included in traffic arrests by Buffalo Grove Police were two arrests for DUI, two for driving on a revoked license and two for driving without insurance.

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Thank You!

Buffalo Grove News and Information is celebrating its second anniversary. Thank you for reading, submitting items, your comments and corrections when the copy desk is caught napping.

In view of the pandemic, the staff and management opted against a lavish celebration and instead had beer and popcorn while watching “Jeopardy.”

As we move into our third year, look for some new features and easier access.

Thanks again!

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Oct 19, 2020

Fights, thefts, and run-away rooster keep cops busy

** Battery charges filed – A Buffalo Grove man has been charged with battery after a confrontation with a property manager of a condominium development. Reports say the property manager noticed a hole being drilled in the roof which, she told police, is a violation of homeowner association rules. Reports say the property manager asked workers to stop while she discussed the matter with the unit owners. According to police, when the property manager attempted to talk with the homeowner the owner refused because the property manager, reports say, was not wearing a face covering or mask. Despite the suggestion that the conversation be held through a closed door, the unit owner would not respond. Reports say the property manager went to her car to get a business card where she was allegedly met by the homeowner’s 45-year-old son who allegedly kicked the car door which closed on the property manager’s legs and hip.
Reports add that the man refused the property manager’s card, which she threw toward him. At this point he reportedly continued to kick the door while the property manager was “wedged in.” She remained in the car until police arrived. The man told police he had no idea who the woman was and told her in no uncertain terms to get off his property. He also said the property manager threw something at him, which was confirmed to be the business card. The man said he wanted the property manager arrested for assault and battery.
Police discussed the matter with construction works who verified the property manager’s story.

**Man charged following fight – A Wheeling man was charged with a felony charge criminal trespassing and battery causing bodily harm following an altercation with a resident in the 0-100 block of Oak Creek Drive. Reports say the resident was upset because the Wheeling man swept garbage on to his patio. Reports say the altercation, which began on the patio ended up in the resident’s apartment as the Wheeling man allegedly pushed the resident into the apartment and reportedly beat him.

** Car thefts reported -- Buffalo Grove Police say they received numerous reports of “a group of subjects checking for unlocked car doors on Willow Parkway and the surrounding neighborhood” during the early morning hours of Oct. 14. Police say there were six reports of cars being entered but nothing missing.

** Fake unemployment claims – The scam continues. Police report 13 reports of bogus unemployment claims received by residents. The bogus claims instruct recipients to activate a debit card issued by Key Bank in Cleveland.

** Red rover, red rover – A resident contacted police saying she purchased a cocker spaniel puppy online from a company in Cleveland, Ohio. According to reports, the resident negotiated $700, plus $150 USC for shipping. The seller, identified as an “unnamed person” promised the dog would be shipped to the resident, who agreed to send half of the cost to the alleged firm. However, the resident, reports note, told police

** Windshield smashed – A resident in the 100 block of Old Oak Drive reported her windshield was smashed sometime from Oct. 12 to 14. There was no surveillance video available.

** Mary, Mary quite contrary – A resident in the 100 block of north Buffalo Grove Road told police two people have been picking vegetables out of the community garden in her condominium development. The resident said she is sure the people do not live there. The resident, who told police she took pictures of the veggie pickers, said they allegedly picked carrots, onions, parsley, bok choy and tomatoes. But yes, they had no bananas, not even in Scranton, Pa.

** Lawn mower swiped – A resident in the 0 – 100 block of Bernard told police his lawn mower was taken from his front yard. Reports say the mower, valued at $525, was left unattended after the resident finished cutting his grass.

Identity Thefts:

** A resident reported that someone took out a $150,000 loan in her name from U.S. Small Business Administration.

** A resident said he noticed an increase in what appears to be fraudulent activity after he took his iPhone into the Apple store to have it repaired. He was told by Apple that they could not repair the phone and traded his old phone in for a new one. The man still has his old phone, and was alerted to nearly $1,000 in charges on his Amazon account.

** A resident told police she checked her e-mail and saw two orders were made on DoorDash and Instacart, which share the same password, to an address in West Memphis, Arkansas. The orders totaled to $300.

** A resident reported that $15,000 was reportedly taken out of accounts he had with two banks. The resident said both banks have closed his accounts and they are investigating the situation. The resident reportedly did not lose any money.

** Package theft – A resident in the 500 block of Longwood Drive told police three packages from Amazon were taken from his front door. Amazon noted the packages were delivered.

** Harassment – A landscape contractor told police that while he was filling gas cans, another customer, say reports, approached him and said "I guess people from [your company] don't know how to wear (expletive) masks?" The contractor said he was wearing a mask. Reports says words were exchanged and the customer called him the contractor a "(expletive) Mexican" and wanted him to come mow his lawn.

** Theft thwarted – An employee at Woodman’s told police he spotted a customer who attempted to steal approximately $1,500 worth of product from the store. The person left the merchandise behind when confronted by store personnel.

** Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce – Seems like Burger King was the place to be for the police last week as three incidents were reported. Reports note two cases of phone fraud and one of an errant dime. In one fraud case, a BK staff member told police he transferred “approximately” $1,000 to a man who called twice saying he was from Burger King’s corporate office and the money was needed to cover costs for security equipment and Fed-Ex fees. The money was sent to a woman in Guadalajara. The employee told police he became suspicious when he got a third call asking for an additional $2,000. But wait, there’s more. A week later, the same employee told police he got another phone call, this one from a man asking for $2700 or “whatever was in the safe.” The money, reports note, was supposedly for a new safe and new electronics an upcoming conversion. Talk about special orders.
As for the errant dime, a customer called police stating she was in the drive-thru and attempted to order "spicy chicken nuggets." The employee told her they didn't have any, and she had to order something else. The customer ordered regular chicken nuggets, and the total was $1.65. She said she paid $1.75 but was not given a receipt or her 10-cent change back. The woman said she pulled back around to the drive-thru window and asked the employee for her 10 cents and receipt. She said the employee told her the receipts were not working, and they would have to handwrite it. Reports indicate that the customer said she again asked for her 10 cents in change. The employee became upset and threw a dime at her and struck her in the face. The customer told police she was "battered" by the employee and wanted the employee arrested. Police did not observe any marks or bruises on woman who declined an ambulance. Write your on ending here.

** So why did the chicken cross the road? – Buffalo Grove Police may have been in a fowl (yes, fowl) mood when they were dispatched to 0 -100 block of St. Marys Parkway in response to a report of a stray rooster. According to reports it took two officers to capture the fleeing fowl. Once apprehended, the rouge rooster was transported to the police station. Police were unable to determine who the owner was and subsequently transported the rooster to the Lake County Animal Control and Care in Libertyville. Reports did not indicate if this was related to the chicken nugget case at Burger King.

** Stupid is as stupid does…

Buffalo Grove Police report the following arrests for traffic violations: three for DUI, two for driving without insurance, one for driving with a revoked vehicle registration, three for driving with a revoked or suspended license and three for driving without a license.