Since we all read the police blottter: tips to avoid arrest

Hinsdale 11/20/07 Western Springs Columnist: Vicki Gonia Doings photo by Steve Johnston

Updated: May 21, 2012 1:24PM

The first thing I do when I get my weekly edition of The Doings is read the police blotter. You know you do it too. I’d say 99 percent of my fellow residents and friends with whom I talk about The Doings or my column admit that the first thing they look at is the police blotter.

It’s partly the gossipy nature of it — when I was young, I’d always look to see which of my classmates made the paper — and partly wanting to know what kinds of crimes our town is experiencing on a weekly basis.

Crime trends

I’ve noticed a few trends, and there are often, frankly, events listed that give me a laugh. Except it’s one of those disappointed kinds of laughs, or the kind of laugh when you’re thinking, “some things will never change.”

One trend? Lots of kids getting busted for underage drinking, possession of alcohol, or possession of drugs and/or drug paraphernalia. Often, they’re busted for this stuff while in cars. Kids: I’m not going to bother giving you the standard don’t-drink-don’t-do-drugs speech. You’ve heard it before (though, seriously, you’ve got a long life ahead of you, especially if you’re not drinking and doing drugs, so maybe wait until you’re older?). Just stop getting in the dang car when you’re under the influence.

Don’t drink in parks

Also, kids? Why are you hanging out in Spring Rock Park with your booze? That’s the first place the cops are going to look. Then they’re going to look in Springdale Park. And all of the other parks. And also, quick tip: don’t drive around in the parking lot at Spring Rock, nor anywhere else, with a bunch of kids on the roof of your car. See, this is why we don’t let you vote.

And yes, I’m expecting to receive a few laughing phone calls from people I went to high school with after they read this column.

Another trend: leaving car doors unlocked and/or leaving valuable items in plain view in our cars. It’s a little like putting a sign on your car that says “free iPhone!” or “free laptop!” or “I don’t need this purse and all of its valuable contents! Take it!” Just put the stuff in your trunk, or bring it with you. Personally, I keep a ton of absolutely value-less junk (read: fast-food wrappers) in my car, and when I need to leave something valuable in my car, I just cover it up with empty Starbuck’s cups and Chicken McNugget boxes.

Stolen liquor

Another thing I’ve noticed: remember way back when the village of Western Springs was considering allowing the sale of alcohol in the village? And one of the concerns was that a liquor department at Dominick’s was too close to the high school, and there was going to be rampant theft of liquor from Dominick’s by teenagers after school? Funny thing — most of the people getting busted for stealing booze from Dominick’s are not teenagers, but adults. This doesn’t mean kids aren’t stealing booze, but I do think it means that our fears were unfounded.

Although, I am wondering where all the kids getting busted for underage drinking are getting their liquor. Back in my day, we just asked the one or two guys we went to high school with who had mustaches to buy our beer. I mean, the kids who drank beer in high school did. I wouldn’t know anything about that.

Another strange trend: on pretty much a weekly basis, there are non-residents who get ticketed for not having valid drivers licenses and/or driving without insurance, usually on or close to Ogden Avenue. Makes me want to stay the heck away from Ogden Avenue at all costs. Why are there so many people driving without licenses, and how are Western Springs police officers so good at catching them? Tip for non-residents: if you don’t have a valid drivers license or insurance, maybe go through Westchester or something. Our cops are going to get you.

Online reports

If you can’t wait for your weekly issue of The Doings, you can usually find it online late Monday or Tuesday at westernsprings.suntimes.com. One recent arrest of note was one for heroin possession, after someone left their heroin on the counter at LA Tan. I don’t even know where to begin with that one.

Though, I will say this. If any of us thinks that the only heroin in this or neighboring towns is brought in by somebody from elsewhere who is spaced out enough to leave their stash on the counter at the LA Tan, we’re fooling ourselves.

Readers can contact Viki Gonia at (708) 824-8027 or by e-mail at doingsnews@pioneerlocal.com.

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