Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on November 30, 1970.
Police Here Probing 20 Weekend Break-Ins
Four business firms, 14 residences in the Jefferson Park area, and two homes in other sections of the city were reported broken into during the weekend, police said today. One attempted break-in at a home in the Jefferson subdivision, was also reported.
Total estimate of loss was not available as police continued the investigations.
Many of the homeowners advised police they heard noises during the night but failed to investigate.
Business firms entered by force included David E. McDaniel Co., 1055 Joliet; Schultz Florist, 2204 Calumet; Rudy’s Service Station, Calumet and Glendale; and Gene’s Standard Station, 1806 East Lincolnway, where a safe was entered and $80 stolen. The safe was not forcibly entered, police said.
Thieves who broke a window to gain entry at the McDaniel firm apparently used a blowtorch to open a money changer machine. It was not known how much cash is missing. A handle on an overhead door was bent, police said, when thieves apparently attempted to gain entry through that entrance.
A screwdriver, pliers and a metal chisel were found near the machine. The blowtorch used was owned by the firm.
Stolen from a cash box at Schultz Florist was $25, police said. The box was found outside the building, which was entered after a side door lock was pried off.
Investigation into the break-in at Rudy’s station was continuing this morning and no estimate of loss was yet available.
Addresses of homes entered in the Jefferson subdivision include 1507 Monticello resident not listed; Michawl Koshuta, 1508 Monticello; Alfred Hohneck 1804 Rockcastle; Alan G. Wood, 1701 Rockcastle; Dennis Hartman, 1903 Rockcastle; Lee B. Steeler, 1805 Rockcastle; Vincent Mrzlak, 1902 Rockcastle; Kenneth E. Landstrom, 1701 McCord; Edward Moore, 1719 Whittier Park; Donald Foreman, 1409 Chesapeake; Kathy Vzap, 1502 Chesapeake; Thomas Zimmerman, 1308 Monticello; James McKesson, 1605 McCord; and Jody Schoenbeck, 1907 Rockcastle.
Thieves entered many of the homes in Jefferson Park through entrances from attached garages after forcing the garage doors open, police said.
Purses and wallets of homeowners were stolen, in some cases, and in other cases the cash was taken from the wallets. In many cases the purses and wallets were found outside the homes, police said. Some homeowners reported credit cards missing along with cash.
Mud was found inside one of the homes, indicating thieves went across rear yards from house to house.
An unsuccessful attempt was made to enter the home of Robert Skalku, 1504 Monticello, police said.
In a break-in at the home of Bernard Meyerowitz, 1906 Calumet, thieves made off with a coin collection valued at $200 and $20 stolen from a purse.
When the family returned home, they apparently interrupted thieves as a back door was slammed as the family entered.
The home was entered after thieves broke a bedroom screen and crawled through a window, police said.
A grandfather type wall clock was the only item reported missing in a break-in at the home of Mabel Bownell, 705 Erie, police said.
Meanwhile, loss was set, at $216 in the theft of various items from a shed at 5971 Central, Portage.
Thieves entered the property, which was fenced, on horseback, police said. Hoofprints were found around the shed.
Stolen were a log chain, hand saw, level, square, hoes, shears, spade, water pump and rope. Roy Lindstrom reported the theft Saturday.
Some Heard Noises, Didn’t Investigate
With the report of 20 weekend break-ins at residences and business firms, Chief Lee E. Miller is urging residents observing suspicious vehicles or persons or anyone hearing strange noises to contact police immediately.
Crime alert telephone number can be used to notify police of any suspicious acts, Chief Miller said, adding that an officer would immediately investigate. The Crime Alert number is 462-3222.
In previous instances involving a criminal act police have been informed by residents that they had heard noises but did not contact police. If police had been notified, perhaps a crime would have been prevented and an arrest might have been made, Chief Miller said.
In the weekend break-ins, some residents told police they heard noises during the night but they failed to investigate. One resident told police she saw a flashlight, but thought she was dreaming so did nothing.
Had police been notified immediately of these facts, perhaps the break-ins would have been prevented, said the chief.
