Fake Shooting, Bomb Threat Calls: Northbrook Police Blotter

NORTHBROOK, IL — Two false emergency calls involving a shooting and bomb threat at a residence were among the incidents in the Northbrook Police Department's latest weekly report.

Police also reported a homeowner confronting a masked intruder, several stolen vehicles and a $10,000 phone scam.

The following information was provided by the Northbrook Police Department in its report for the week ending Oct. 16.

Neither arrests nor charges indicate a conviction, and neither means that a person is guilty of the charges filed against them.

SWATTING CALLS

Police received two separate false emergency calls involving a possible shooting and bomb threat at a residence in the 1900 block of Kingsley Circle at 11:45 p.m. Oct. 12. Officers contacted the homeowners and confirmed the calls were fake.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY

A homeowner in the 1400 block of Arbor Lane reported an interrupted burglary at 7 p.m. Oct. 9. The homeowner was napping when he heard a loud noise and found a masked person standing in his foyer. The intruder yelled to another person outside and fled. Officers searched but did not locate them. Nothing appeared to have been stolen.

STOLEN VEHICLES

A resident of the 1200 block of Briarwood Lane reported at 8:25 a.m. Oct. 10, that her silver 2018 Honda had been stolen from her driveway overnight. The vehicle had been left unlocked with the keys inside.

A resident of the 900 block of Shermer Road reported at 9:09 a.m. Oct. 10, that her blue Kia had been stolen from her driveway. The vehicle had been left unlocked with the keys inside. A Ford F-150 pickup in the driveway also had been entered and rummaged through.

A resident of the 1500 block of Voltz Road reported at 6:22 a.m. Oct. 14, that a white Audi in his driveway had been entered and a black 2018 Audi stolen from his garage. Surveillance footage showed two people arriving around 3 a.m., entering the vehicle in the driveway and using its garage door opener to access the garage. The stolen Audi’s keys had been left inside.

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Police received reports at 10:02 a.m. Oct. 10, of unlocked vehicles entered overnight in driveways and on streets throughout Northbrook. Reported stolen items included key fobs, sunglasses, a debit card and cash.

Several residents throughout Northbrook reported vehicle burglaries at 7:29 a.m. Oct. 14. Vehicles had been entered while parked in driveways overnight. Several were unlocked, while one had a window smashed. Garage door openers were reported stolen.

PHONE SCAM

A resident of the 100 block of The Court of Harborside reported a $10,000 loss at 5:53 p.m. Oct. 11, after receiving calls from people claiming to represent her bank.

The first caller persuaded her to send two Zelle transactions to resolve a supposed account issue and requested permission to download a program providing him with access to her computer. Another caller, claiming to work in the bank’s fraud department, then persuaded her to wire money to New York to address the missing funds. She later realized the calls were a scam.

RETAIL THEFT

Management at a beauty products store in the 900 block of Willow Road reported at 6:57 p.m. Oct. 9, that a woman stole $1,826 worth of products Aug. 2.

THEFT

A resident of the 2100 block of Shermer Road reported at 7:53 p.m. Oct. 10, that an $800 Apple Watch was missing from a package delivered to his home. The box appeared to have been tampered with and taped closed.

A person reported at 7 p.m. Oct. 12, that AirPods valued at $199.99 were stolen after being accidentally left on the floor of a fitness facility in the 4100 block of Dundee Road. The person contacted staff the following day but could not recover them.

IDENTITY THEFT

A person reported at 12:59 p.m. Oct. 15, in the 1000 block of Skokie Boulevard, that someone used her personal information to obtain an unauthorized loan. Documents from the financial company contained her name, Social Security information and email address. She is disputing the loan.

SUSPENDED LICENSE

Tommy Miller, of Wheeling, was charged with speeding in a school zone and driving while license suspended following a traffic stop at 10:12 a.m. Oct. 9, near Crabtree Lane and Pfingsten Road. Police said an officer measured his Ford F-150 traveling 35 mph in a 20 mph school zone while students were present. A court date was listed for Nov. 9.

Freddy A. Valladares Montes, of Chicago, was charged with driving while license suspended following a traffic stop at 1:26 p.m. Oct. 9, in the 1500 block of Skokie Boulevard. An officer stopped his Jeep Cherokee after observing suspended license plates. A court date was listed for Nov. 13.

Paulino Sanchez Guzman, of Wheeling, was charged with driving while license suspended following a traffic stop at 4:18 p.m. Oct. 10, near Dundee Road and Fair Lane. An officer observed his Dodge Durango traveling at a high rate of speed, checked the registration information and identified him from his driver’s license photo. A court date was listed for Nov. 13.

NO VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE

Willian R. Jacho Jacho, of Chicago, was charged with a defective headlight and driving without a valid license following a traffic stop at 6:33 p.m. Oct. 11, near Dundee and Greenwood roads. A court date was listed for Oct. 27.

DUI

Emily A. Stenson, of Northbrook, was charged following a traffic stop at 9:55 p.m. Oct. 12, near Skokie Boulevard and Dundee Road. An officer observed her Toyota RAV4 weaving between lanes, and police said she showed signs of intoxication and failed field sobriety tests. She was charged with improper lane usage, DUI and DUI with a blood alcohol concentration over .08. Police reported a BAC of .220. A court date was listed for Oct. 27.

Justin M. Thomas, of Northbrook, was charged with DUI after officers responded at 11:18 p.m. Oct. 13, to a parking lot in the 700 block of Skokie Boulevard. A witness reported a driver asleep at the wheel of a Chevrolet Corvette. Officers found Thomas asleep with the vehicle still in drive and its brake lights on. Police said he appeared intoxicated after being awakened and failed field sobriety tests. A court date was listed for Nov. 23.

STOLEN VEHICLE CHARGE

Gabriel Araujo Blanco, of Hanover Park, was charged following a traffic stop at 9:37 p.m. Oct. 13, near Sanders Road and Terri-Lyn. An officer observed him driving a Volkswagen Jetta reported stolen in Chicago. He was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, driving without a valid license and suspended registration. The report listed a court date of Oct. 15.

LICENSE AND REGISTRATION CHARGES

Gerson Cuz Rax, of Chicago, was charged following a traffic stop at 2:47 p.m. Oct. 14, near Midway and Dundee roads. An officer observed suspended license plates on his Volkswagen Jetta and learned he did not have a valid driver’s license. He was charged with suspended registration, driving without a valid license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. A court date was listed for Dec. 2.

Erick Guel, of Wheeling, was charged with suspended registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle following a traffic stop at 7:39 p.m. Oct. 14, near Dundee and Waukegan roads. An officer observed suspended license plates on his Volkswagen Jetta. A court date was listed for Nov. 13.

WARRANT ARREST

Steven R. Seebacher, of Northbrook, was taken into custody at 11:08 a.m. Oct. 15, in the 3000 block of Lilac Lane. Police said Seebacher had been charged Sept. 17 with theft, theft of property and forgery, and a warrant was issued after he failed to appear for assigned court dates. He was transported to the Cook County Jail pending his next court appearance.

LAST TIME: $30K Lost To Fake FTC Agent: Northbrook Police Blotter