How you can help capture Aurora bandits
While Aurora police continue their hunt for a group of men responsible for a seven-hour crime spree that left two shot and many others shaken over the weekend, the key to their capture already could be in a city resident's or business owner's hands.
Or, hard drives.
Earlier this month, police put out a call for businesses and residents with security cameras to share footage that might show criminal activity.
So far, police haven't found any video of last week's crime spree, but that doesn't mean there isn't crucial evidence out there.
“Things that might seem insignificant to people who are not investigators or police” may help piece together what happened, said Sgt. Matt Thomas in the department's investigations division.
That could include something like a vehicle that isn't in its usual location, or maybe somebody being picked up or dropped off by a vehicle police are investigating. Your recording could help them determine the exact route a suspect took.
How to help
The department wants people and businesses who have cameras to join a registry, so police will know more quickly whether a camera might have captured something. Knowing where cameras are, and that the owner is willing to let police look at the video, “Oh, it is huge for us,” Thomas said.
Information on whether surveillance systems record sound or have remote access also is valuable.
If you're willing to sign on, email invtips@apd.aurora.il.us with your name, address, phone number and email address; make and model of your security system; description of the exterior area captured by the camera(s), such as your yard, driveway, street, etc.; how long your system stores footage; and if you know how to download footage. For details, call (630) 256-5000.
Welcome aboard
The Buffalo Grove Police Department's new social worker, Brittany Wilson, was introduced to village leaders this week. Wilson, a licensed professional counselor and national certified counselor, provides resources and support to individuals and families in crisis.
Since June, she has helped 94 Buffalo Grove families, police brass said.
“Without her in that position, we would have unfinished business,” Chief Steve Casstevens said. “That would result in our officers being called back to those locations again and again and again, because the problems are unresolved.”
Impressive response
Kane County Sheriff's Office Lt. Patrick Gengler marveled at the focus and tactics of Midwest Search and Rescue and Illinois-Wisconsin Search and Rescue Dogs volunteers who searched for a despondent, missing St. Charles man in wetlands and wooded areas last weekend.
“It is pretty neat to see them go,” he said of the searchers, who have undergone specialized training that meets criteria of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. With their training and equipment, they were able to cover more ground and water faster than a similar number of regular patrol officers, Gengler said.
A familiar name is teaching those skills at the dog organization's annual training conference this week: retired Pingree Grove Police Chief Carol Lussky.
Can't make this up
When an Oswego man was trying to evade North Aurora police early Tuesday morning in a chase that ultimately ended up in the Fox River, he ran past a bar and grill on Butterfield Road, staff writer Chris Placek found out.
Its name? The Run-A-Way.
Special homecoming
She wasn't the homecoming queen, but Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman got to wave to the crowds like one Thursday.
West Aurora High School made her the grand marshal of its homecoming parade. Ziman graduated from West in 1991 and began her career with Aurora police that year as a cadet. She was named chief in January.
Ziman tells us her passion back in her high school days was writing for the school newspaper, The Red and Blue, under the tutelage of English teacher Barbara Blom. And yes, she loved homecoming week.
“My friends and I were always at the games proudly donning red and blue and really big hair! Roll on, ye Blackhawks roll!” she tells us.
Ziman's daughter, Bailey, is a senior at West, and her son, Jake, is a junior.
“I'm obviously over the moon about returning to WA and serving as grand marshal!”
Rewarding experience
See something, say something, get paid.
Naperville Crime Stoppers is offering rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to arrests in a pair of unusual cases.
Earlier this month, someone stole numerous antique World War II American military rings from Affordable Antiques, 1508 N. Naper Blvd. The rings depicted symbols of the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Army.
Police also want to know who threw a Molotov cocktail through the broken window of a vacant house at 2816 Alameda Court about 1 a.m. April 30.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at (630) 420-6006.
He went, and now he's gone away
A felony charge and locked up on $20,000 bail for urinating in a park? Seems excessive ... except maybe not for a guy who's made a habit out of it, according to police and court records.
Elgin police Tuesday arrested Robert Poile, who is homeless, on a felony littering charge. They say he relieved himself near a building and drinking fountain in the city's Festival Park early Sept. 14.
A report states the bathroom break was caught on a police security video camera. “Poile spends a considerable amount of time in the immediate area and was easily identified by officers after review of the video.”
Poile had just been released from the Kane County jail Aug. 5, after spending 78 days behind bars for a similar matter. He's on conditional discharge, staff writer Harry Hitzeman told us.
Poile faces up to three years in prison if convicted of the new charge.
Got a tip? Have a question? Please email Charles Keeshan and Susan Sarkauskas at copsandcrime@dailyherald.com, or call our tip line at (847) 427-4483.