'Suspicious' package in Arlington only holds stolen papers

A suspicious bag on an Arlington Heights street turned out to be harmless but was stolen property, police said Sunday.

Police were called Saturday afternoon after a woman reported a suspicious package near the intersection of Highland Avenue and St. James Street.

The Cook County bomb squad and bomb sniffing dogs were dispatched to the scene, which was cordoned off, but nothing harmful was detected.

Police later traced the package to a car burglary in Inverness. It had been stolen, but then apparently abandoned, Arlington Heights police said Sunday. Arlington Heights and Inverness detectives are now investigating the theft.

Arlington Heights police Sgt. Michael Kearney said a women saw a shoulder bag lying on the street when she left her house at about 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

When she returned home around 2:30 p.m., she saw it again with items hanging out of it.

At that point, she felt it her duty to report it.

“She was vigilant, and we commend her for that,” Kearney said.

Police initiated their standard response, telling residents and merchants to vacate the area and setting up a perimeter while the bag was checked.