Gas meter theft leaves Elgin family in the cold

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Updated: February 25, 2012 8:17AM

Elgin

Cold-hearted thief: A family who live in the 700 block of East Chicago Street told police that they began feeling more and more chilly between 11 p.m. Sunday and 1:30 a.m. Monday. Finally looking outside, they discovered someone had stolen the entire gas meter serving their single-family home, interrupting the fuel supply to their furnace. The family said that during the past week, someone also had turned off their gas line at the meter and had tampered with the home’s electrical box. Police said they asked Nicor Gas to replace the meter, and they tried to question someone whom the couple have been suing in a legal action involving the house.

Credit cards used: Malcolm J. Gray, 20, of the 1200 block of Abbott Drive, Elgin, was charged with felony counts of unlawful use of a credit or debit card. He is accused of using another person’s cards at Walgreens and Jewel stores on Jan. 15. Bail was set at $50,000, and he was given a Feb. 8 court date.

Residential burglary: Diontae D. Young, 18, of the 800 block of Ruth Drive, Elgin, was charged with a felony count of burglary. He is accused of entering a home on North Clifton Avenue on Jan. 15. Bail was set at $100,000, and he was given a Feb. 8 court date.

DUI charges: Jorge A. Hernandez-Saucedo, 28, of the 1600 block of Mulberry Court, Elgin, was charged with felony counts of aggravated driving under the influence after a traffic stop Sunday in Elgin. Bail was set at $40,000, and he was given a Feb. 8 court date.

Using her name: A resident of North Lyle Avenue told police Sunday that she was notified by Capital One Bank that someone had tried to open a credit card account in her name. Checking immediately with a credit bureau, the woman learned that someone also recently had tried to open accounts in her name with a cellphone company and a discount store.

Hampshire

No plane crash: Hampshire police reported Monday that on the night of Jan. 19-20, they plus police and fire personnel from Huntley, members of the Hampshire Fire Protection District, and sheriff’s deputies from Kane and McHenry counties were involved in a wide-ranging search for the site of a possible plane crash. According to reports, someone in the Route 20 area on Hampshire’s far north side reported at 9:15 p.m. Thursday that he or she had seen an eastbound plane plummet toward the ground and disappear over the horizon. The caller also reported seeing what seemed like a puff of smoke come up from the ground near where the plane had disappeared. After much searching by police car and firetruck without finding anything, the searchers asked the Illinois State Police to fly over the area. But nothing turned up. Hampshire police said a pilot who had landed safely about the same time at a Hampshire-area airport said he hadn’t noticed any other planes in the sky, and the regional Federal Aviation Administration office knew of no planes missing or in trouble.