Police: Stolen Car, Counterfeit Cash

A 25-year-old Hazel Crest woman rented a 2012 Toyota vehicle from Enterprise at Golf Mill Ford on March 28 and failed to return it when due April 1, police said. She phoned and said she wanted to keep it longer, instructing the business to charge her credit card; however, the card was declined. She told them she would speak with her bank and call back, but she never did, and the phone number was subsequently disconnected. 

Enterprise found another phone number for her and dialed it. This time, it was answered by a woman who said she had never rented a car, but she had been robbed in the city and her identity was being stolen; Niles police could not immediately determine if a police report had been made for that robbery.  

She said there were similar charges at other car rental agencies. Enterprise sent a certified letter to her address, which she said was signed for by someone she did not know. The woman said she didn't have any information on who rented the car, or copies of their driver's license and the rental agreement. Police advised her to get that information for the follow-up investigation. 

Police have entered the vehicle into the state theft database as stolen, and are investigating. 

Man presents counterfeit $100 bill to pay for sandwich

On April 18 at about 4 p.m., a man paid for a $6.99 meal at a restaurant in the 8200 block of Golf Road with a $100 bill and was given change. The business later determined the bill was counterfeit and called police, who checked the area but did not find the man. Police also received complaints from other stores about attempts to pay with counterfeit currency. Police sent the bill to the Secret Service and are investigating. 

Get Niles and Morton Grove news in a free daily email from Patch.

Man tries to pass off fake $100 bill to buy wallet

On April 18 at about 3:45 p.m., a store in the 8300 block of Golf Road reported someone tried to purchase a woman's wallet with a counterfeit $100 bill, but the store turned him down and he left. The manager described the offender as a male about 6 feet tall and 150 pounds, wearing a brown jacket and blue jeans. The manager said he would download the surveillance video for police. 

Information is provided by the Niles Police Department