Crime & Safety
Woman Robbed $3,500 After Check Stolen, Forged
In another incident, a woman was discovered deceased after a caregiver arrived and found her unresponsive. An arrest is merely an accusation, not evidence of a conviction.
A 26-year-old Niles woman reported May 11 that her wallet was stolen from her purse, and someone forged and cashed one of her checks for $3,500 and made a $350 purchase with her credit card, according to the report. She did not know the location where the wallet was stolen.
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The woman did not realize her wallet, checkbook and credit cards were missing until the day prior, when she received in the mail an envelope which contained some of the stolen documents. The envelope bore a logo from a Chicago hospital, but she has no connection with that hospital. Police filed a report and both police and the woman's bank will investigate.
Woman found deceased by caregiver
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Police and Niles Fire Department paramedics responded May 10 at about 12:55 p.m. to a home in the 8300 block of Newland after a caregiver called to say she had arrived at her patient's home, knocked, got no answer, let herself in at the unlocked door and found the patient unresponsive on the living room floor.
The caregiver, a 59-year-old Des Plaines woman, said the patient, Doris Dieckman, 85, had called Advocate Lutheran General Hospital at about 11:30 a.m. to confirm that the caregiver was to come that day, and the caregiver arrived at about 12:45 p.m.
Ms. Dieckman suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the caregiver said, according to police. Police said she was still warm to the touch and paramedics began life-saving measures, but were unsuccessful.
A doctor at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital pronounced Ms. Dieckman deceased just before 1:20 p.m., and police received approval from the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office to release the body to the family and funeral home. At 1:45 p.m., Ms. Dieckman's son was notified, arrived on scene and told what had transpired.
Man charged with DUI
Jonathan Lukas, 25, of Park Ridge, was charged with DUI after Niles police spotted his car crossing over the white-striped lane markings on southeastbound Milwaukee Avenue several times just before 11:50 a.m. on May 8, according to the report. Police said Lukas had a moderate odor of alcohol on his breath and, when asked if he had consumed alcohol, said he had drunk one Guinness beer. He showed impairment on field sobriety tests and he was also cited for improper lane usage. His court date is May 21 at the Skokie branch of the Cook County courts.
Information is taken from Niles Police Department reports.
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