Four bicycle thefts in a single evening, a battery arrest and a string of property crimes filled the Oak Park Police Department's latest activity summary, posted Wednesday, Aug. 5.
The report covers the period from Tuesday, Aug. 4 (2nd watch) through Wednesday, Aug. 5 (1st watch) and logs 15 incidents and one arrest. It is the first OPD activity log released after the department hosted National Night Out on Aug. 4 at Village Hall, 123 Madison St.
Bike theft cluster
Three of the four bike thefts occurred within a roughly 90-minute window on the evening of Aug. 4, between 5 p.m. and 7:10 p.m.:
- A VeFreedom e-bike with a light blue frame was taken from a rack on the 400 block of South Blvd. between 5:45 and 7:10 p.m. Estimated loss: $600.
- A black/gray Cypress bicycle, secured with a lock, was stolen from the 800 block of Lake between 6:20 and 7 p.m. The victim is a River Forest resident. Estimated loss: $200.
- A black-and-white Ancheer Gladiator Pro bike and lock were stolen from the 200 block of N. Scoville between 5 and 6:45 p.m. The victim is also a River Forest resident. Estimated loss: $501.
A fourth theft, a black Trek Marlin 4, was reported earlier that day on the 200 block of LeMoyne at 9:45 a.m. Video captured a male suspect removing the bike. Estimated loss: $200.
Total estimated loss across the four thefts: $1,501.
Battery arrest
David Mabry, 22, of the 2900 block of W. Lake in Chicago, was arrested Monday, Aug. 3 for a battery that occurred July 15 on the 100 block of Chicago Avenue. The arrest was made at the 2700 block of S. California in Chicago.
Retail theft arrest
Jesse Winford, 37, of the 3900 block of W. Adams in Chicago, was arrested at Target, 1129 Lake St., on Aug. 4 at 1:14 p.m. for retail theft.
A separate retail theft was reported at Barnes & Noble, 1144 Lake St., on Saturday, Aug. 1. A male suspect removed a Pokémon Lego set and an Olivia Rodrigo Lego set without paying. Estimated loss: $104.98.
Other incidents
The summary also includes an attempted motor vehicle theft on the 100 block of N. Ridgeland on Aug. 3 at 6:48 p.m. Three suspects broke a 2013 Hyundai Elantra's passenger window and peeled the steering column before fleeing east. Damage: $2,000.
A burglary of a cargo trailer on the 900 block of S. Maple, reported between July 31 and Aug. 4, resulted in the theft of a Toro lawnmower and an Eagle electric leaf blower worth $2,601. A residential burglary on the 900 block of North Blvd. between Aug. 2 and Aug. 4 involved someone entering an apartment and removing a kitchen knife.
No suspects have been identified in either case.
Criminal damage was reported to a 2019 Audi Q5 on the 800 block of S. Humphrey on Aug. 4, with a rear window smashed. Damage: $200.
Policy context
The activity log lands as OPD operates under a 60-day policy review of pretextual traffic stops, approved unanimously by the Village Board on July 21. That review, prompted in part by the May 31 death of Christian Wallace during a traffic stop near Harrison Street and Austin Boulevard, directs village staff, the Citizens Police Oversight Committee and Pivot Consulting Group to draft restrictions on stops related to vehicle equipment and non-safety violations. The deadline falls around Sept. 19.
In a July 23 report, the Wednesday Journal noted that Trustee Derek Eder cited 2025 data showing 74% of 569 Oak Park traffic stops involved Black residents, who make up 18% of the village's population.
The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force investigation into Wallace's death remains ongoing. The pretextual stop policy draft is expected to return to the Village Board for enactment after the Sept. 19 deadline.
