$55K Lost In Phone Scam: Northbrook Police Blotter

NORTHBROOK, IL — The following information comes from the Northbrook Police Department and court records as a record of incidents reported to police and those arrested on criminal charges, which represent accusations by the state that are often dropped or reduced. Updated information may be available from the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Everyone arrested is presumed to be innocent unless found guilty in court beyond a reasonable doubt.

ARRESTS

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

Binyounusbasr Faisal, of Skokie, is accused of disorderly conduct, and was arrested at 3 p.m. May 16, in the 1800 block of Shawnee Trail. Police said Faisal stopped his vehicle and approached two juveniles, offering them stuffed animals before being interrupted by the children's parent. Faisal left the scene and was stopped by police about an hour later. Police said his actions caused the victims to be fearful.

DRIVER'S LICENSE OFFENSES

• Cesar Solis, of Northfield, is accused of improper lane usage and driving while license revoked, and was arrested at 8:21 a.m. May 18, at Waukegan and Shermer roads. Police said officers responded to a property damage crash and learned Solis, who was driving a 2021 white Ford F750, had a revoked driver's license. A court date of June 8 was assigned.

WARRANT SERVICE

Ronald V. Elarde, of Elgin, was arrested at 12:51 a.m. May 21, at Willow and Old Willow roads, on an active arrest warrant out of Elgin. Police said an officer was in the area of a possible stolen vehicle that had been reported stolen out of Chicago and located a 2025 gray Nissan Versa traveling westbound on Willow Road. Elarde was taken to the Elgin Police Department, and the vehicle was towed.

INCIDENTS

SCAMS

• A resident in the 1200 block of Rudolph Road reported at 1:46 p.m. May 15, that they had received an email from someone posing as a board president who instructed the resident to send funds to two different emails. Believing the emails were legitimate, the resident sent a total of $4,110. Afterward, the resident contacted the real board president and realized they had been scammed.
• A resident in the 2600 block of Techny Road reported at 1:52 p.m. May 15, that they had received a phone call from someone claiming to be from Apple. The caller told the resident their Apple account had been hacked and that several charges had been placed on it. Another person later called the resident, claiming to be from the Federal Trade Commission, and instructed the resident to move money from their bank account into an account he provided. The resident moved $7,000 and wired $48,000 to a separate account before realizing it was a scam.
• A resident reported at 12:14 p.m. May 21, that a male approached them in a department store in the 100 block of Skokie Boulevard and asked about a piece of clothing. The resident also noticed a female come up behind them during the conversation. After both people walked away, the resident noticed their wallet had been stolen. Soon after, the resident received fraud alerts that their stolen credit cards were being used at an Apple store and a Tory Burch store. The resident was able to freeze their accounts.

IDENTITY THEFT/FRAUD

• A resident in the 2500 block of Cotswolds Court reported at 2:11 p.m. May 15, that someone had hacked into their airline account and stolen 227,570 mileage points. Police said the miles went to people in the Middle East and the Philippines.
• A resident in the 1700 block of Dundee Road reported at 5:52 p.m. May 16, that someone had used their name and personal information without permission to open a cellphone account. The account had $525.36 in debt. The resident also learned their information had been used to apply for a Best Buy account, but the application was not completed.
• A resident reported at 10:53 a.m. May 18, that someone had hacked into their American Express credit card account and fraudulently purchased $900 worth of Apple products.
• A resident reported at 2:17 p.m. May 18, that someone had used their information to illegally open a Home Depot credit card. Police said the card had more than $1,000 in debt. The resident contacted the credit card company and disputed the charges.
• A resident in the 3000 block of Plum Island Drive reported at 10:21 a.m. May 20, that someone had used their personal information to buy an iPhone 17 Pro in Aurora. Police said the person had an ID card with the resident's name and information but the suspect's picture on it. The resident is working with all parties involved to clear their name.

THEFTS/BURGLARY

• A resident in the 1900 block of Smith Road reported at 2:20 p.m. May 17, that someone had entered their 2018 Hyundai while it was parked in the driveway overnight. The resident said the vehicle had been rummaged through and believed it had been locked. A driver's license, credit card and $80 were stolen.
• A resident reported at 10:07 a.m. May 18, that approximately $200 was stolen from a workplace locker in the 2300 block of Shermer Road. The resident said they had locked their purse and wallet in the locker with a padlock. When they returned, the lock was still locked, but items inside the locker had been rummaged through.
• A loss prevention officer at a store in the 100 block of Skokie Boulevard reported at 5:59 p.m. May 18, that on April 28, a male entered the store, grabbed a backpack for sale and filled it with headphones, a T-shirt, a purse and jeans. The person left without paying for the items, which were valued at $151.77.
• A resident in the 2100 block of Dehne Road reported at 5:32 p.m. May 19, that someone had stolen a wedding diamond ring and wedding bands from their home. The resident did not know when the rings were stolen and told police various people had been inside the residence over the past year. The rings were valued at $40,700.

CRIMINAL DAMAGE/DEFACEMENT

• A witness reported at 4:12 a.m. May 18, seeing new graffiti on a pump station near a railroad crossing in the 1700 block of Techny Road. The graffiti included various shapes and lettering.
• Northbrook Park District staff reported at 7:35 a.m. May 19, that several pieces of patio equipment had been thrown into a public pool in the 1500 block of Maple Avenue. Staff also found a damaged pool net next to the floating equipment. Police said tire marks were found on the wooden floor of a nearby bicycle exercise track. The total estimated damage was $1,050.

LAST WEEK'S BLOTTER: $14K In Jewelry, Gold Stolen In Home Burglary — Northbrook Police Blotter