A shoplifting suspect flashed a handgun at a Jewel Foods employee on Saturday, July 18, headlining a stretch of retail thefts, vehicle crimes, and arrests that Oak Park police documented in two activity summaries released between Monday, July 20, and Wednesday, July 22.
According to the OPD activity report covering July 17–20, the suspect at Jewel Foods, 438 Madison St., removed meat from a display shelf, walked past the last point of purchase without paying, and raised his shirt to show a black handgun in his waistband when an employee confronted him. He fled east on Madison in a red GMC SUV. Estimated loss: $400.
The same report logged an attempted catalytic converter removal on the 200 block of Chicago Avenue on Saturday, July 18, with an estimated loss of $1,700. Officers also recovered a stolen 2007 Pontiac G6 that had been taken from the first block of Washington Boulevard on Thursday, July 16; Chicago police located the car on the 600 block of North Troy with two people apprehended.
OPD arrested Theresa D. Howard, 38, on Saturday, July 18, on retail theft and warrant charges at Target, 1129 Lake St., and Old Navy, 417 N. Harlem Ave. Monique R. Allman, 29, was arrested Sunday, July 19, in connection with a hit-and-run.
The second activity report, covering July 20–22, documented a pattern of property crime. Someone removed all four tires from a 2018 Hyundai Elantra parked on the 6700 block of Roosevelt Road between Monday, July 20, and Tuesday, July 21. Estimated loss: $1,800. A red Trek bicycle worth $800 was stolen from the 200 block of North Scoville on Monday, July 20.
Jermaine A. Bell, 36, was arrested Tuesday, July 21, on the 900 block of South Oak Park Avenue on theft, burglary tools, and warrant charges. The same day, Ira D. Allen, 50, and Brandon L. Martin, 45, were arrested separately for retail theft at Jewel Osco, 7036 Roosevelt Road.
OPD promotes safe exchange lobby
Between the two activity posts, OPD reminded residents on Tuesday, July 21, that the police station lobby is available around the clock as a monitored location for completing in-person transactions tied to online sales. The lobby sits in the lower level of Village Hall at 123 Madison St., is well-lit, and is staffed 24 hours a day, according to the department's official account on X.
The department encouraged anyone buying or selling items online that require a face-to-face meetup to use the space.
Both activity summaries are posted on the village's website. OPD publishes the reports on a rolling basis; each includes brief summaries of calls, complaints, and arrests for specific date ranges.
