Yes Virginia, There Really is a Krampus

LA GRANGE, Dec. 20—A man with a white beard, wearing a Santa hat and, “smoking something,” was reported at about 3:39 p.m. sitting in a white van on the 300 block of south Kensington Avenue and shouting, “Ho! Ho! Ho! I’m watching you” to a group of children. The call came 20 minutes after the sighting and police said the vehicle was gone when they arrived.

Stretching Their Chicken Legs, Neighbor Cries Foul

CLARENDON HILLS, Dec. 8—Four chickens, one goose, and one rooster escaped the backyard of a home in the 400 block of Naperville Road at 2:32 p.m. and wandered into the yard of a neighbor on the same block.

Responding officers unsuccessfully tried to alert the owner that the animals were loose. The incident occurred the day after the same rooster was the cause of a neighbor's noise complaint.

Grappling with Temptation

LA GRANGE, Dec. 19—A man and woman possibly having sex in a red Toyota 4-Runner in a church parking lot at 105 N. Madison Ave. were reported at about 3:27 p.m. The vehicle was gone when police arrived.

Lots of Wrapping Paper Required

DOWNERS GROVE, Dec. 18—Nearly $10,000 dollars worth of arcade machines and electronics were taken from Tropix Eat & Play Restaurant, 1211 Butterfield Rd. The machines included a 42” Vizio television, a Golden Tee arcade machine, a Big Buck Hunter arcade machine and a jukebox.

Squirrels Seem Bigger This Year

LA GRANGE, Dec. 13—A driver passing the 300 block of south Peck Avenue reported at about 7:13 a.m. seeing a man crawling around in the bushes at one home. A resident reported being outside a few minutes earlier with the dog and nobody was there.

Holiday Spirit: Dancer, Prancer, Low-Life Purse-Snatcher

DOWNERS GROVE, Dec. 13—A worker/bell ringer for Salvation Army had her bag stolen outside of Jewel on Main Street after she left it on the ground outside while she ran inside to use the bathroom and quickly warm up. The stolen property was estimated at $280.

Make Top Level a Park?

LA GRANGE, Dec. 12—Eight youths were reported playing touch football on the top floor of the village parking garage, 80 S. Sixth Ave., at about 7:23 p.m. but were gone when police arrived.

LA GRANGE, Dec. 10—A loud band was playing on the top floor of the parking garage, 80 S. Sixth Ave., police were told at about 2:25 p.m. Police found the musicians and sent them on their way.

She Toed Him to Stop

LA GRANGE, Dec. 12—A 23-year-old La Grange woman told police she had been receiving harassing telephone calls for a couple months and foot-fetish messages had been texted to her cell phone.

Man Behind Crime Stingy with a Dime

ELMHURST, Dec. 9—Robin Carreno, 52, 240 N. Oak St., Elmhurst, was arrested and charged with retail theft after she allegedly took a dress at 7:28 p.m. at Kohl's, 303 S. Route 83. She told police her husband is a "cheapskate" and refused to buy the dress for her.

Sold Out of Cowbell

DOWNERS GROVE, Dec. 9— A 45-year-old man allegedly tried to steal a digital thermometer valued at $34.99 from Fry's Electronics. Steven McElheny, 45 of 9701 S. Oak Park Ave. in Oak Lawn, was charged with retail theft.

Pump-Bump and Run

HINSDALE, Dec. 8—An employee of Shell Gas Station, 210 E. Ogden Ave., reported that a dark-colored vehicle hit a gas pump and then fled the scene at 3:53 p.m. The pump shifted as a result of the contact, and was dented in three spots.

Santa Needs to Lock Up the Sleigh This Year

LA GRANGE, Dec. 6—A satellite dish was stolen off the roof of a home on the 1000 block of south Eighth Ave. The homeowner replaced the dish.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

BATAVIA, Dec. 5—Police responded to an argument involving a son not wanting to go on vacation. The complainant received scratches on the arms. The responding officer took the son to the father's residence.

Don't Add to Your Contacts List

ELMHURST, Dec. 3—A resident on Atrium Way told police she received a call from someone requesting her personal information, including credit card numbers and her social security number. She said the phone number came up "Scam Number" on her caller ID, but she supplied all of the personal information anyway. After the call, she realized her mistake and canceled her bank cards.

Don't Try This Unless You Are a Professional

LA GRANGE, Dec. 3—Police said they could not find a man in his 50s who was reported punching himself in the head at La Grange Road and Burlington Avenue at about 2:58 p.m. He wore a blue coat, blue jeans and a blue-and-yellow scarf.

Credit from Beat-Your-Butt Bank

BATAVIA, Dec. 2—A Batavia resident came to the Police Department to report threatening calls from a credit card company. The last calls came from a local number. The resident told police he is concerned the caller may follow up on threats to "beat him up."

Fed Him a Line of Red Bull

DOWNERS GROVE, Dec. 2—The owner of the Main Street Shell Station told police a man, approximately 5'10” and 300 lbs, came in and started making himself a cup of coffee. While doing so, he asked the store employee if they sold Red Bull, and if so, if the employee could grab him a couple of cans while he was making his coffee. When the employee returned from the cooler with the drink, the man asked if they sold the bigger cans of Red Bull. The employee went back to the cooler and got the drinks. The man paid for the Red Bulls and coffee and left. The owner felt uneasy about the encounter, and when he checked the surveillance footage later, the man could be seen placing six cartons of cigarettes, valued at $388, into this coat while the employee was retrieving the Red Bull.

What's in Your Wallet?

ELMHURST—Someone found a wallet and turned it in at the Elmhurst Police Station. Police discovered it contained a fake identification card. When the owner of the wallet came to retrieve it, he was charged with attempted unlawful possession of a fraudulent ID.

Double Ouch

ELMHURST, Nov. 29—Somebody stole the handicap placard from an unlocked vehicle parked at Daniel Hall at Elmhurst College, 190 S. Prospect Ave., between 5 and 5:53 p.m. The victim also received a $250 ticket for parking in a handicap spot without a placard.

Wasn't for a Class Botany Project

BATAVIA, Nov. 28—Police were called after an envelope containing marijuana seeds was delivered to the wrong address and mistakenly opened by a staffer at Louise White Elementary School. According to the paperwork accompanying the envelope, the seeds were ordered online from Canada at a cost of $500. The police report didn't provide the address where the seeds were supposed to go.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity in our towns, using information provided by official agencies. Persons charged with a crime or issued a citation for violation of a local ordinance are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you or a family member are charged with a crime or cited for a violation and the charge or citation is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor of this Patch so we can follow up on the case.