Mercedes Bought Online Stolen During Delivery: Northbrook Blotter

NORTHBROOK, IL — A woman who bought a 2023 Mercedes online never received it after someone allegedly intercepted the delivery instructions and redirected the vehicle to South Holland, according to Northbrook police.

It was among several incidents recently reported by police.

The following information comes from the Northbrook Police Department and court records. Criminal charges are accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Updated case information may be available from the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Stolen Auto

A woman who recently purchased a 2023 Mercedes online from a Northbrook auto dealership told police Aug. 13 that someone intercepted instructions for transporting the vehicle and redirected the tow to South Holland.

Police said a man posing as the buyer paid the tow driver cash for the transport. The theft was discovered after the actual buyer asked where her vehicle was.

Officers checked the South Holland location but could not find the Mercedes.

DUI Crash

Christopher G. Baker, of Lincolnwood, was charged following a crash Aug. 13 near Lake Cook Road and Skokie Boulevard.

Police said no one was injured. Baker, whom police identified as the at-fault driver, appeared intoxicated and fell asleep in his vehicle while an officer was speaking with the other driver.

After an officer woke him, Baker failed field sobriety tests, according to police.

He was charged with:

• Following too closely
• DUI
• DUI with a blood-alcohol concentration above .08

Police listed his BAC as .154. His court date is Sept. 2.

Residential Burglary

A resident in the 1000 block of Skokie Boulevard told police Aug. 12 that she returned to her apartment after being away since July 28 and discovered several high-end belongings missing.

Three handbags, a scarf and a belt valued at a combined $13,900 were reported stolen. Police said there were no apparent signs of forced entry.

Check Fraud, Forgery

A resident in the 3700 block of Torrey Pines Parkway told police Aug. 13 that someone attempted to cash a fraudulent $9,800 check against her account at a Nebraska bank.

Bank employees determined the check was fake and out of sequence, according to police. The resident confirmed she had not written the check.

In a separate report, a resident in the 1200 block of Mount Vernon Terrace said two business checks were stolen from her home after she had guests over.

One of the checks, for $4,300, had a payee added and was cashed at an unknown bank. The resident was working with her bank to identify the payee and reverse the transaction, police said.

Resisting, Obstructing Identification

Jose C. Gatica-Ramos, of Waukegan, was charged following an Aug. 11 traffic stop near Willow and Sanders roads.

An officer stopped a Mazda after seeing it being driven at night with a defective headlight, police said. The driver allegedly rolled up the windows and refused to speak with the officer, identify himself or provide a driver's license.

Officers eventually entered through a passenger door. Police said Gatica-Ramos continued to refuse to identify himself and resisted while being taken into custody.

He was charged with:

• Defective headlight
• No valid driver's license
• Operation of an uninsured motor vehicle
• Unlawful transportation of cannabis
• Resisting arrest
• Obstructing identification

His court date is Sept. 28.

Domestic Battery

Kendall A. Soudan, of Northbrook, was charged with domestic battery following an Aug. 8 incident in the 3000 block of Manor Drive.

Police said Soudan struck a family member with her hand and a phone, causing an injury. Her court date was listed as Aug. 13.

Battery, Criminal Damage

Joseph M. Lombardo, of Northbrook, was charged with battery after police said he pushed another person during an Aug. 7 incident in the 1400 block of Shermer Road. His court date is Sept. 10.

Lombardo was also charged with criminal damage to property in connection with a separate Aug. 5 incident at a restaurant.

Police said Lombardo was served food and wine before a bartender refused to serve him additional alcohol because of his intoxication. Lombardo allegedly smashed a plate on the floor and left.

An investigating officer met with Lombardo at his residence Aug. 11 and filed the charge, according to police.

Warrant Service

Nicholas Pavlenko, of Northbrook, was stopped Aug. 7 in the 200 block of Skokie Boulevard after an officer saw a vehicle with expired license plates.

Police said Pavlenko had an active arrest warrant for failing to appear in court on a domestic battery charge.

He was also charged with driving a vehicle with expired registration and was turned over to the Cook County Jail.

Retail Theft

Judy Lee, of Northbrook, was charged with retail theft Aug. 13 after police said she stole several pieces of clothing worth a combined $349.32.

Police allege Lee used a magnet to disable and remove security tags from the merchandise so theft alarms would not activate when she left the store.

Her court date is Sept. 10.

Vehicle Burglaries

Residents in the 100 block of Bridlewood Road reported Aug. 9 that someone entered an unlocked Cadillac and Ram truck parked in their driveways.

Police said both vehicles were ransacked. About $35 was stolen from the Cadillac, while nothing appeared to be missing from the truck.

Theft

A Lenovo laptop valued at $1,500 was reported stolen from a sports complex in the 700 block of Landwehr Road.

The owner told police Aug. 7 that he accidentally left the laptop behind and discovered it missing when he returned the next day.

Credit Card Fraud

A resident in the 100 block of Avon Road reported Aug. 12 that someone used his debit card number to make seven unauthorized payments toward an AT&T account in Indiana.

The transactions occurred between November 2025 and June and totaled $757.06, according to police.

Phone Scam

A resident in the 2600 block of Techny Road told police Aug. 13 that he received a text purporting to be from Apple support and warning of fraud on his account.

The resident called the number in the message and provided his banking information and Social Security number during the conversation, police said.

After becoming suspicious, he contacted his bank and learned someone was attempting to access his account and withdraw money. The bank flagged the account and stopped the transactions.

Vandalism, Vehicle Damage

A person in the 900 block of Willow Road reported Aug. 8 that someone threw garbage onto the hood of a vehicle parked outside a drug store. Police said there appeared to be no permanent damage.

On Aug. 12, a resident in the 2500 block of Brian Drive reported that eggs had been thrown across the exterior of two vehicles while she was away for five days.

A resident in the 2100 block of Valencia Drive told police Aug. 13 that someone had repeatedly flattened the tires of two passenger vans over the previous several weeks. Police said puncture holes appeared to have been caused by sharp objects and nails.

Suspended Registration

Loushera A. Thompson, of Evanston, was charged Aug. 12 following a traffic stop near Dundee Road and Anthony Trail.

Police said Thompson was driving a vehicle with suspended license plates. She was charged with suspended registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

Her court date is Sept. 2.

LAST TIME: $100K Rolex Stolen In Jewelry Ruse; $10K Theft Charge — Northbrook Blotter