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Avoid car break-ins

[DEC. 19, 2002]  Holiday seasons usually bring out the best in people, but sometimes the holidays can also bring out the worst. Over the past several weeks, the Lincoln Police Department has been investigating several reports of car burglaries within the city limits. To help reduce the risk of you being victimized by someone, you can follow some of these steps and make your holiday season the best ever.

Find a parking space near a light.

Keep your holiday goodies in the trunk so no one can see them.

Keep your purse, cell phone and change out of view.

Lock your car.

Lock your car.

Take all valuables inside or out of sight.

Don't leave compact disks or change in the car.

Leave outside lights on.

Try to park near your lights.

Look into buying a car alarm.

While walking from store to car, always have your keys ready.

Not only are your keys used for starting your car, they are also a great safety weapon.

Know where your car is parked and go right for it.

If you have a panic button for your car, if you feel strange, use it.

Try not to carry more than you can handle while walking from a store. If you need to make several trips, do so.

If someone tries to take your purse, let them have it; you have a family to go home to.

[Timothy R. Butterfield,
 community policing officer]

Alert to the citizens who would prefer their holiday spirit unscathed by crime

Car break-ins

[DEC. 18, 2002]  Lincoln City Police have been receiving continued reports of car break-ins. Most reports are of criminal damage to property (vehicles) and theft. Most of the reported incidents are occurring in the Angel Valley and the Podunkville area. Some of the streets listed in the reports have been Willamette, Oglesby, Madison, McDivitt, Short Eighth and Eighth, and North Adams.

The criminals have most often had it made easy for them by car owners leaving their cars unlocked. In some cases thieves have been forced to take more risk and work a little by using bricks and such to break windows.

So far their efforts are being pretty well rewarded. Loot has included mostly a number of cell phones, CD players, stereo systems and personal items left in the cars. However, that wasn't quite enough for one thief; he, she or they took the whole vehicle.

It should go without saying that you should be practicing some practical procedures to protect yourself and your valuables in this season as much as any other time of the year.

--Lock your cars.

--Don't leave valuables in an unattended vehicle.

--Park in well-lit areas.

--Be conscious of what is normal in your neighborhood.

--Listen and watch out for each other.

--Call 9-1-1 if you suspect a criminal activity in progress.

[to top of second column in this article]

You should be taking precautions in your home as well. This includes simply locking all doors and windows, especially when you are not at home. Turn lights on.

Nearby Peoria has had a rash of peculiar incidents recently. Fire and rescue squads have reported an increase in a particular type of rescue. They have been called out to pull people out of chimneys. What do you suppose those people were doing there? Hint: The chimney stuffer didn't live there.

So, take some practical precautions, and perhaps you will avoid the distress of becoming a theft victim.

 [Jan Youngquist] 

Driver in Mount Pulaski crash ticketed

[DEC. 18, 2002]  The driver in a roll-over accident that resulted in one fatality on Friday, Dec. 13, has been ticketed with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and driving under the influence of alcohol. Cody J. Tschantz, 22, of Mount Pulaski was driving his '86 Dodge pickup heading eastbound when he failed to negotiate the turn at the Route 54 spur in front of Stahl's. The accident happened at 10:46 p.m.

A passenger in his vehicle, 21-year-old David White, was declared dead at the scene by Logan County coroner's staff at 11:40 p.m. Tschantz was taken to St. John's Hospital in Springfield. His condition is not available at this time.

The accident continues to be under investigation by the Logan County sheriff's office, with Sgt. Wayne Hildebrandt leading the investigation. There are still some interviews to conduct, and investigators will gather evidences including accident reconstruction results from the state of Illinois. Those results, with toxicology and pathology results from the Logan County coroner, will be submitted to the Logan County state's attorney, Tim Huyett.

Logan County Sheriff’s Department personnel were called out to Route 121 again Saturday night for another roll-over accident at 10:35 p.m., exactly 24 hours after the first accident.

Jason Fulk, 33, of Lincoln was heading north when he failed to negotiate the curve at 1100th Avenue. His Chevy P10 went into the ditch on the southbound side of Route 121 and rolled over at least two times before ending upright again.

Fulk was ticketed for speeding and driving too fast for conditions.

 [Jan Youngquist] 

Seat belt use up

[DEC. 14, 2002]  The Lincoln Police Department conducted a seat belt enforcement detail within the city Nov. 14-30. The department is happy to announce that with the combined efforts of the Illinois Department of Transportation and local law enforcement the use of seat belts and child restraints has increased since 2001.

The results during this enforcement period are as follows:

--Speeding citations: 14

--Other moving citations: 14

--Seat belt citations: 53

--Suspended license: 1

--There were no citations written for violating the child restraint laws.

During this enforcement detail, 70 vehicles were stopped by the Lincoln Police Department.

Local police continue to encourage the motoring public to use safety belts and child restraint devices while traveling.

[Officer Tim Butterfield,
Lincoln Police Department]

Police Reports

Link to Illinois sex offender information provided by the Illinois State Police:

http://samnet.isp.state.il.us/ispso2/sex_offenders/index.asp

Searches available by city, county, ZIP code and name.

Community Policing Activities

Court News

Name, age, address; date, charge; sentence

(Week ending 12-20-02)

Marriage Licenses

• Terry L. Tibbs, Middletown
  Jessica J. Sutton, Lincoln

• Robert S. Hart, Lincoln
  Sue Barger, Lincoln

• Jeffery T. Cicci, Lincoln
  Cheryl A. Frick, Lincoln

Dissolutions

(Week ending 12-20-02)

• Johnny R. Otto, Lincoln
  Kimberly A. Otto, Mason City

• Michael L. Shane, Menard
  Margaret M. Shane, Lincoln

• Patrick B. Hake, Lincoln
  Andrea C. Hake, Champaign

• Johnny R. Stagnolia, Clinton
  Rachel R. Stagnolia, Lincoln

Most Wanted

Call (217) 732-4159 with any information.

Call (217) 732-4159 with any information.

ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THESE INCIDENTS OR ANY OTHER CRIME IN THE LINCOLN/LOGAN COUNTY AREA IS URGED TO CALL "CRIME STOPPERS" AT 732-3000 OR E-MAIL AT crime@ccaonline.com.  YOUR INFORMATION WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND YOU MAY REMAIN ANONYMOUS.  IF YOUR INFORMATION LEADS TO THE ARREST OF THE PERSON(S) INVOLVED, "CRIME STOPPERS" WILL PAY YOU A CASH REWARD UP TO $1,000.

"CRIME STOPPERS" HAS AN ANSWERING MACHINE TO ANSWER YOUR CALLS.  THIS IS TO PROTECT YOU IF YOU WISH TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS (YOUR CALLS CANNOT BE TRACED WITH THE MACHINE).  YOU NEED TO LET US KNOW HOW YOU CAN BE CONTACTED ABOUT THE INCIDENT, OR YOU MUST WATCH TO SEE IF THE SUBJECT HAS BEEN ARRESTED.  THIS IS SO WE CAN MAKE A PAYOUT.

Cases

• Sometime before 9:22 a.m. on Dec. 15, 2001, a Chevrolet Cavalier was taken without the owner's permission from the 200 block of Latham Street in Lincoln. The vehicle was later found stuck in the mud at the Sportsman's Club. Crime Stoppers is asking for information as to who had taken the vehicle.

• Sometime before 9:11 a.m. on July 21, a burglary occurred at Lincoln Junior High School, 208 Broadway St. in Lincoln. Unknown person(s) broke a window on the third floor and gained access to the building. Unknown person(s) went through the school and caused damage and vandalism to the school property.

• Late Sunday night and early Monday morning, March 18 and 19, someone stole items from five different Lincoln vehicles.
  The first vehicle was parked at a residence on the 1800 block of Pekin. A $175 radar detector was taken from the car.
  In one of the Lincoln Christian College parking lots, change was stolen from an automobile.
  On the 200 block of Mayfield, several items totaling $75 were stolen from a car parked at the owner's residence: a book binder, school books, homework, a calculator, a learner's permit and some change.
  The next vehicle was parked inside a garage on the 900 block of N. McLean. The owner remembers locking the garage door. A portable CD player, which is worth about $100, was taken from the vehicle.
  The last theft was from a car parked at the owner's residence. A $50 AM/FM CD player was stolen.
  There are no suspects at this time, but due to the timing of the crimes it is believed that they may be connected. If you have any information about these thefts, please contact the Lincoln Police Department at 732-2151, or Crime Stoppers at 732-3000.

• A series of thefts in the early morning hours of Thursday, March 15, is under investigation. There are no suspects yet, but police believe that one person or group is responsible for all of the crimes. 

  The first vehicle, a pickup truck, parked at the owner's residence in the 500 block of Tremont, was entered through the rear sliding door. It is estimated that $400 worth of property was stolen: a radio, duffle bag, four clothing items, prescription sunglasses, two flashlights and a disposable camera.

  The second vehicle had an AM/FM CD player stolen. To gain entry, the suspects forced entry to the side door of the '93 Jeep, which was parked in front of the owner's residence in the 300 block of Tremont. The radio is worth about $100.

  Two cars were broken into in a residential parking lot on the 100 block of S. Logan St. One vehicle, a truck, had a CD player removed; the suspects removed the dash cover to take the $200 unit.

  The other vehicle, a van, had a radar detector removed. The detector is worth about $100.

  If you have any information about these crimes, please contact the Lincoln Police Department at 732-2151 or Crime Stoppers at 732-3000.

• On Feb. 19, 2001, between 6 and 8:15 p.m. unknown person(s) placed an unknown substance on a 1999 Cadillac parked at the Mount Pulaski grade school. The grade school is located at 200 N. Garden Street in Mount Pulaski. The substance caused extensive damage to the paint on the vehicle. The Mount Pulaski Police Department, (217) 792-5018, and the Lincoln/Logan County Crime Stoppers are requesting anyone with any information to contact them.

• On Jan. 16, 2001, a possible arson occurred at 127 N. Kickapoo St. (the old Scully Building) in Lincoln. The possible arson was reported at approx. 7:12 p.m. on that date. Anyone with any information about this incident who may have seen anything or anyone in the area of the building is asked to contact the Lincoln Police Department, Lincoln Fire Department or Crime Stoppers.

• On Jan. 12, 2001, sometime between 6  and 9 p.m., a burglary occurred on Mayfair Drive in Lincoln. Unknown person(s) forced open a garage door and entered the residence. Unknown person(s) looked through dresser drawers and a closet. Taken from the residence were several shotguns, a cellular phone and a camera.

• Sometime between Nov. 23 and Nov. 27, 2000, unknown person(s) entered a residence on the west side of Lincoln. Unknown person(s) forced entry to the residence and went through it. Several items of jewelry where taken, along with a laptop computer and an unknown amount of U.S. currency.

• Sometime between Nov. 13 and Nov. 14, 2000, unknown person(s) forced entry to the Plaza Wash and Lube at 2821 Woodlawn Road in Lincoln. Unknown person(s) broke a window on a door on the east side of the building. Unknown person(s) entered the office area and took an assortment of U.S. currency and some product coupons. Estimated damage to the door was around $70.

Information on payouts

Total calls received:       241

Solved cases:                   45

Arrests made:                   60

Dollar amount of drugs and merchandise recovered:    $36,200.00

Dollar amount paid out for rewards:    $9,775.00

(2000 figures)

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