Suburban man charged with online theft, forgery

A Schiller Park man who prosecutors say arranged to buy two watches and a diamond bracelet through Craigslist and paid for them with phony checks is charged with three counts of online theft and three counts of forgery.

Terrence Norwood, 47, was ordered held on $180,000 bail - $30,000 for each charge - Thursday by Cook County Judge Joseph Cataldo.

Assistant State's Attorney Alyssa Grissom said Norwood agreed on May 29 to pay $6,600 on delivery for a watch advertised on Craigslist. He gave the seller the address of an apartment complex o the 1800 block of Golf Road in Mount Prospect, Grissom said. Norwood met the delivery company driver in the parking lot with a check for that amount, Grissom said. When the seller attempted to deposit the check, he discovered it was fraudulent. In the meantime, she said, Norwood sold the watch at a Stone Park pawnshop.

The same scenario played out June 9 after Norwood agreed to purchase a second watch advertised on Craigslist for $4,250, again payable on receipt, Grissom said. Norwood met the delivery driver in the parking lot, turned over a check and took possession of the watch, which he pawned in Oak Park, Grissom said.

Norwood's last purchase took place July 1, when he agreed to buy a diamond bracelet advertised on Craigslist for $2,237, Grissom said. This time, he had it delivered to an apartment complex in the 500 block of West Dempster Street in Mount Prospect, she said.

If convicted of the most serious charge, Norwood faces up to seven years in prison.