Crime & Safety

Two Hinsdale Homes Broken Into in Four-Day Span

The incidents inspired a press release from the Hinsdale Police Department last week asking for community vigilance.

Residential burglary—Two Hinsdale homes were broken into last week, and though the incidents are not believed to be related according to Deputy Chief Mark Wodka, the close time proximity .

The first burglary occurred in the 10 block of North Monroe Street between 3:35 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Nov. 1. The victim came home to find a forced-open basement door, an open living-room window open and a “ransacked” bedroom, according to police. The victim is still compiling a list of stolen items.

The second burglary occurred in the 600 block of East 1st Street between 8:15 a.m. and 10:19 a.m. Nov. 4. In that case, a male victim returned home to find his front door forced open and two computers worth a total of $3,000 missing.

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“Because of the nature [of the burglaries] and the methods that were used to gain entry, we don’t believe that they are related,” Wodka said.

Wodka said the weekend release was sent out because of the back-to-back nature of the burglaries and because the approaching holiday season is always a good time to alert the community to be on the lookout for suspicious figures and behavior.

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The release has sparked much positive response and tips from the community, according to Wodka, who said the recent break-in/murder in Indian Head Park has resulted in increased community vigilance.

All-in-all, burglaries in Hinsdale are down in 2011, Wodka said. There have been seven incidents so far this year; in all of 2010, there were 13.

Disorderly conduct—A passenger in a silver, older model Mercedes-Benz traveling north on County Line Road allegedly threw several rocks in the direction of a 60-year-old male complainant who was walking along the sidewalk between 1st and 3rd streets at 4:15 p.m. Nov. 4, according to Hinsdale Police.

None of the rocks struck the complainant, who needed no medical attention. The passenger who threw the rocks was described by Hinsdale Police as a white male between the ages of 18 and 20.

Unlawful use of alcohol—Spencer R. Salchow, of 822 Madison St. in Hinsdale, was charged with illegal consumption of alcohol after police responded to a report from a cab driver that the 18-year-old was sleeping in his rear seat at 5500 S. Madison St. and was unable to wake up at 1:58 a.m. Nov. 6.

Hinsdale Police officers observed Salchow to be under the influence of alcohol,  charged him, and released him to appear in court.

Unlawful use of alcohol—Andrew L. Kinsella, of 108 Oxford Ave. in Clarendon Hills, was charged with illegal consumption of alcohol after police came across the 18-year-old walking down the sidewalk of the 700 block of South Park Avenue with a sleeve of plastic cups and observed him to be under the influence of alcohol at 11:48 p.m. Nov. 5.

Kinsella was charged and released on bond to appear in court.

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