Crime & Safety

Headrest Prevents Eternal Rest in Attempted Car Jacking: Weird Crimes

Neighbor decides to quickly dipose of trash, with fire • Vandal creates bumper trouble • What did that coffee pot ever do to you? • Driver not spared in tire theft ... This week's roundup of weird crime news in the Southland.

By Nick Swedberg, Patch Field Editor

Missed Him By That Much


June 10: A 20-year-old Chicago Heights man narrowly avoid getting shot during an attempted car jacking and may have been saved by a headrest.

The driver was unharmed, according to police. Officers found a single bullet hole in the rear of the driver's side headrest. Chicago Heights police searched the area of the shooting in the 1900 block of Yale Avenue but were unable to find the shooter, according to a report. The driver did not provide a description of the suspect to police.

At about 1:30 a.m., the Chicago Heights man was driving southbound on Yale Avenue when he was flagged down by the three men wearing hooded sweatshirts, according to police. One man came up to the car and ordered the driver to get out.

When the victim refused to get out of his car, the man giving the orders fired a single shot at the Taurus, according to police. The driver immediately drove to the Chicago Heights Police Department.

Read more on Chicago Heights Patch

Impromptu Incineration


June 11: A Palos Heights resident recently called police to tell them a neighbor was burning trash near the street.

Jason A. Borosky, 43, of the 6300 block of West Orchard, is charged with disorderly conduct, according to a Palos Heights police report. Boroksy was arrested at about noon.

A neighbor called police and said Borosky was lighting his garbage can on fire while it was sitting by the street, according to the report. Boroksy was cited and is due on July 26 in Bridgeview court.

Bumper Trouble


June 14: A New Lenox driver was recently the victim of some oddly specific car damage.

Police were called to the New Lenox Police Department on a report that someone removed the plastic strips from a car bumper, according to a report. It was reported at about 2:30 p.m. The car had been parked in the Metra lot. 

Read more on New Lenox Patch

Upset Customer Takes It Out On A Coffee Maker


June 6: An agitated customer at a store in the 100 block of East 14th Street knocked over a coffee maker after being asked to leave, according to a report.

The incident happened at about 2:27 p.m. A witness told police the man was causing a problem and knocked over the coffee pot only after he was repeatedly asked to exit the store. No arrest was reported. 

Read more on Chicago Heights Patch

Driver Not Spared In This Theft


June 12: This sounds like a job for AAA. 

The spare tire on a van parked in a lot at Comfort Inn & Suites, 18400 Spring Creek Dr., was stolen, according to a Tinley Park police report. The tire is valued at $400.

Read more on Tinley Park Patch's Crime Map

Are you a fan of true crime? Like the Crime-n-Shame Facebook page for tales of mischief and woe from all over the Chicago area.

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