Seatbelt Proves Challenging for Alleged 'Limp' Drunken Driver: Weird Crimes

Wise To The Scam

July 1: Palos Park police are investigating a scam involving a 92-year-old woman who was approached on Monday.

The elderly victim had just parked her car in the lot at Jewel, 9600 W. 131st St., when two women walked up and attempted to pull what police called a "pigeon drop" scam.

The alert target told the would-be scammers she was aware of what they were trying to do and would not fall for it, police said.

A pigeon drop scam involves a well-dressed young woman who approaches the victim, claiming to have just found a bag or envelope with what appears to be a large amount of cash, according to police. The ruse sometimes involves talking with the intended target about children or grandchildren. The next part of the bit involves a third woman, who is in on the scam and either joins in helping find the owner of the bag or asks if the targeted victim dropped it.

Eventually, a scheme is concocted that requires the victim or "pigeon" to put up some of her own money in order to secure a way to claim the found money and split it three ways.

The first scammer from the Palos Park Jewel parking lot is described as a light-skinned white woman in her mid 50s with a medium or heavy build, round face and short black hair. She was wearing a white blouse and dark pants. The second person involved was a while woman with darker complexion and wrinkles who was very thin and had short, curly and dark hair.

Anyone with information about the incident can contact the Palos Park Police Department at 708-448-2191.

Read more on Palos Patch

Don't Run, Son

June 26: Larry Pickett, 27, of the 400 block of Brown Creek Church Road, Wadesboro, NC, was charged with retail theft and resisting police, according to a report. He is accused of placing two pieces of clothing and a bottle of Ciroc vodka into a backpack at Kmart, 17550 Halsted St., and leaving without paying.

Homewood police were called to the store and, after arriving, noticed someone matching the description of the suspect running away. Police caught him a short time later. Pickett was arrested and held for a bond hearing on June 27 in Markham court. 

The total value of the items in the theft is $59.77.

Read more on Homewood-Flossmoor Patch

Seatbelt Troubles for 'Limp' Driver 

June 15: A Plainfield driver who tried to exit her car without unbuckling the seatbelt is accused of drunken driving.

Shannece Gregory, 24, of the 5000 block of Elmira Court, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without headlights, driving without proof of insurance and driving with a suspended license, according to a report. 

An officer saw a 2003 Mercury Sable at about 3:17 a.m. driving on 14th Street near Western Avenue without headlights on, the reports states. The car didn't stop for almost three blocks after police turned on emergency lights and sirens. The driver, Gregory, appeared confused and went "instantly limp" when reaching for the glovebox.

When asked to perform field sobriety tests, Gregory tried to get out of the car without first removing her seatbelt, according to the report. She was arrested a short time later and taken to the Chicago Heights Police Department. At the department, Gregory was unable to provide a breath sample.
 
Gregory is due on July 23 in Markham court.

Read more on Chicago Heights Patch


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Police report information is provided by local police departments. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.
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