Crime

Big Week

CRIME Car wash repairman’s van with work equipment stolen

A man who thought his work van was towed discovered that it was stolen, with $20,000 worth of work equipment inside.

The victim, who works for a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based car wash equipment manufacturer, told police he repairs company equipment in area car washes and that he’s been parking his white 2013 Ford Econoline E250 work van at a parking lot on the north side of 15th Street, just west of Circle Avenue, for the past seven years.

He last left the van there on May 28 at approximately 10 a.m., but when the victim returned for it on May 31 at 5:30 a.m., he found it gone.

After a towing firm confirmed it didn’t have his vehicle, the victim called police.

The victim said that the van contained multiple DeWalt hammer drills and various hand tools, along with a DeWalt tool box. It also had company-owned car wash repair equipment “including electronics, computer parts, motors, chemicals and various other items.”

Attempted burglary

A man tried to use a block of concrete to break the lock on the back door of Elite Tire & Auto Service auto repair shop, 35 S. Harlem Ave., running away after his attempt triggered a burglar alarm just before 2 a.m. on May 31.

Security camera video reportedly showed a man walking east on Franklin Street, on the south side of the building. The man looked through the Franklin Street door and then was seen with his head wrapped in a T-shirt and carrying what appeared to be a large chunk of concrete. The man was next seen running to the other side of Franklin Street, crossing to the other side of Harlem Avenue and running north on Harlem Avenue.

Police arriving on the scene in response to the burglar alarm found the rear door unlocked. The door handles and locking mechanism were damaged, and the officer saw a large piece of concrete near the door.

Nothing was taken, and the suspect hasn’t been identified.

Man arrested for shoplifting, lies about name

A 55-year old Chicago man was charged with theft and obstruction after he was caught allegedly shoplifting from the Forest Park Walmart, 1300 Des Plaines Ave. and repeatedly lied to the officers about his name.

On June 3, at 10:29 a.m., the alleged offender was observed changing into clothes that were on sale at the store. He reportedly tried to walk out without paying for them, and the store employee who made the complaint reported that the man tried to steal “multiple items,” including a belt and several watches. The employee stopped the alleged offender and detained him at the store’s security office until the police arrived.

When questioned by the police officer, the man originally gave a name that didn’t show up in law enforcement databases. The man was warned that he would be arrested if he failed to provide a real name, but he continued that insist that it was his real name.

A fingerprint check eventually confirmed his real identity, and revealed that he had a Town of Cicero police warrant out fo r trespassing.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, May 31-June 2, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.

Compiled by Igor Studenkov

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S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T Savor a slice of history at Old World Pizza

The legacy recipes of the Bambini family endure at the Elmwood Park mainstay

In 1960 the Bambini family emigrated from Sicily to the United States and brought an arsenal of well-loved recipes with them. In 1963 the family opened their first restaurant and relied on “quality and service” to nurture a loyal customer base. Though ownership of the pizza and pasta focused eatery has changed hands several MELISSA times over the years, the same collection of century old recipes remains at the heart

ELSMO of the Elmwood Park business. Today, The Original Old World Pizza, 7230 W. North Ave., thrives thanks to generational affin-

Food Writer ity for their traditional pies and consistent flavor. Current manager, Nick Tharani and his staff have dedicated themselves to keeping this Elmwood Park pizza tradition alive. Tharani has been part of that legacy for three years, but pizza cook, Amadeo Montalvo, has been topping, baking and sliced Old World pizzas for more than two decades. The continuity of recipes and longtime employees cultivates a base of cusMore than pizza at Old World: An array of dishes awaits at the Elmwood Park eatery. Burgers, wings, salads and pasta dishes are shown here with traditional Old World pies.

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Veteran pizza cook, Amadeo Montalvo, slices up a small thin crust pie at Old World Pizza in Elmwood Park.

tomers who keep coming back. “All of our sauces are made fresh inhouse,” said Tharani. “A Wisconsin dairy farm custom blends our cheese.” The manager qualifies Old World’s sauce as “not too sweet and not too tangy.” The red sauce forms the base for the five types of pizza offered at the unassuming strip mall restaurant. Traditional thin crust and indulgent deep dish are the most popular offerings, but double deck, double dough and stuffed pizzas are also on the Old World menu. The shop churns out an average of 150 pizzas every Friday night. In fact, Tharani recollects a time when a former owner changed the custom cheese blend for a less expensive and more readily available brand. Customers were swift to notice the change and the business returned to their old ways to keep their patrons satisfied.

“Some of our customers have been coming here for more than 20 years and we know them by face and name,” said Tharani. “If we make any changes, we’ll hear from them. We have customers who come back to get a slice after 10 years and they say it tastes exactly the same.”

Old World Pizza has a small casual dining room where hungry customers can enjoy

Fried Dough is an indulgent treat from Old World Pizza in Elmwood Park.

MELISSA ELSMO

a freshly made bowl of spaghetti or piping hot pizza, but 90% of Old World’s business comes from a combination of delivery and carryout orders. Pizzas account for 80% of business at Old World Pizza, but Tharani is quick to recommend their chicken wings, house made meatballs, and fried dough, too. An Elmwood Park mainstay, The Original Old World Pizza, is on a mission to continue serving hungry locals the pizza they have come to know and love — every slice they serve honors a near 60 year old legacy.

Lunch Specials at Old World Pizza:

Despite supply chain issues and food cost increases, management has kept the prices on their weekday lunch specials the same. These “pick-up only” are available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and come with a can of soda or bottle of water.

Two slices of thin crust pizza ............$6.50 Italian beef sandwich with fries ........$7.50 Meatball sandwich with fries .............$7.50 1/3-pound hamburger with fries........$7.50 Breaded Chicken Sandwich with fries ...$7.50 Grilled chicken sandwich and fries ...$7.50 Eggplant sandwich with fries ............$7.50 Pepper and Egg Sandwich with fries .....$7