Debit-card Fraud Costs Hinsdale Man $4,000

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Debit card fraud—An unknown suspect made $4,000 in unauthorized purchases using the debit card information of a male victim from the 400 block of Birchwood Road between July 1, 2011, and March 22, 2012, according to the . The purchases were reported to police on April 12.

Many of the purchases, which were all made online via retail websites, were around $25, Deputy Chief Mark Wodka said. One of the purchases, however, was for $2,000; that purchase was noticed by the victim and prompted him to call the police to investigate.

Wodka did not know the exact number of purchases that were made. He said it’s not yet clear if the bank will reimburse the victim, though the deputy chief said banks often do in such cases after a police report is made.

DUI—Michael A. Spayta, of 108 Hampton Ave. in Westmont, was arrested after he allegedly side-swiped a parked vehicle with his Cadillac in the 900 block of South Monroe Street while under the influence of alcohol and fled on foot to a backyard in the 900 block of South Adams Street at 8:55 p.m. April 14.

Police located Spayta, 51, and charged him with DUI, driving with a revoked license, leaving the scene of an accident, and improper lane usage after he failed field sobriety tests and refused a breath test. He was released on bond to appear in court.

Theft—An unknown suspect stole steel scaffolding, iron manhole covers, 40 feet of coiled lead pipe, and a stainless steel drinking fountain from a fenced-in area behind the building that once housed Brockman Plumbing in the 700 block of North York Road between April 1 and April 14.

The value of the scrap items is not known, Wodka said. The victim, who owns the building and the scrap items, said he saw an unknown black pickup truck leaving the work site during the above timeframe. That is the only lead he could provide to police on a possible suspect.

Burglary to motor vehicle—An unknown suspect entered a vehicle and stole from it $8 worth of loose currency while the vehicle was parked Adventist Hinsdale Hospital parking garage between 3:15 p.m. and 11 p.m. April 13.

The suspect gained entry to the vehicle through an unsecured window.

Criminal damage to property—A known suspect keyed the side of an Acura TSX while it was parked unoccupied in the 200 block of East 55th Street at 7 p.m. April 11.

The suspect’s key did $100 worth of damage to the vehicle. 

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