Blotter: Break-in Reported at Eliot Building

Editor's Note: The following incidents occurred between Feb. 14 and Feb. 17, and were included in the most recent weekly report, sent out on Feb. 29. Specific details come from individual incident reports maintained by the department.

Feb. 14 — Police were called to the vacant Eliot Community Center building on a reported break-in. The building, located at 6700 Cedar Lake Rd., had two smashed basement windows. Nothing was reported missing from inside, but officers did find two small lunch pales and ashes from an apparent fire started in the cafeteria.

A wallet was also found on the ground near the smashed windows. Police indicated they would contact the owner of the wallet, but that person was not identified as a potential suspect. No other potential suspects have been identified.

The roughly 100-year-old building has been vacant since February 2010, but was . At least has been reported at Eliot since it became vacant.

Feb. 14 — A 57-year-old man called police after his car was broken into and a laptop stolen. The car was parked in an underground garage in the 4700 block of Park Commons Drive. A rear passenger window was smashed out. Along with the laptop, a digital camera, $100 cash and a brief case were taken. No suspects have been identified.

Feb. 14 — Police responded to the 3200 block of Webster Avenue South on a report of theft from a vehicle. A 44-year-old man said the car was parked in the road and he likely left a door open. Stolen were several duffel bags, a laptop and a cell phone. Several items were recovered near . The phone was not found, and the man said the suspect had used his phone to access his Facebook account and post a message saying that he is a prostitute. The suspect has not been identified.

Feb. 14 — A 24-year-old man said the car he was using, which belongs to his mother, had three windows smashed out. The vehicle was parked in the 1400 block of Colorado Avenue South. Nothing was reported stolen. No suspects have been identified.

Feb. 16 — A break-in was reported at . A 39-year-old man with a unit there said someone apparently broke off his lock, then stole a bag of hockey gear, including skates, breezers and other equipment. No suspects have been identified.

Feb. 17 — Two suspects reportedly opened a package on the step of a residence in the 2000 block of Louisiana Avenue South, then stole a pair of jeans, according to a witness. The witness said the two suspects—a tall, slender, black male, and a short, stocky white male, both roughly 13 or 14—took the jeans and entered a building in the 1400 block of Hampshire Avenue South. Police talked to people in that building, but no one knew anyone matching the suspect descriptions.

Feb. 17 — Police responded to after a reported break-in. The pastor said a window was smashed out and a ground-level door was left unlocked, which is apparently where the suspect exited the building. Nothing was reported stolen. No suspects have been identified.

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