Monday, August 29, 2011

Marengo residents - watch out for the gypsies!

Marengo and McHenry County residents should read the following message very carefully. It was written by a woman who is very concerned, very interested and who steps forward into the fray to get action. She didn't leave much space "between" the lines, but you'll read into it and ask the same questions that she did. How did she uncover so many burglaries that the sheriff's department didn't report? Because she talks to people.Read her letter carefully. Her name is used with permission. Her letter is published in its entirety.


Hi All,

I have received many emails from quite a few people wanting to know if I knew what was going on regarding the burglaries. I, too, was sickened by the lack of information put into the Northwest Herald after the article went to print on Saturday August 27th.

I wanted all of you to know that I went to the Undersheriff in the McHenry County Sheriff's office this morning, accompanied by McHenry County Board member Mary McCann. We spoke with both Undersheriff  Andrew Zinke, and also Lieutenant James Popovits. Of course, we asked why the other burglaries in the unincorporated area of McHenry County (Marengo Area) were not in the paper. They said and I quote, they have "only confirmed 3 in the unincorporated area". They said they have another board where the locations listed are not the same ring of people, but rather "Gypsies." Those victims of the "Gypsies" are the ones they didn't deem necessary to include in the newspaper.

Neither myself nor Mary were satisfied with that. We clearly let them know the public needs to be informed, no matter what the case. They took all the information (including police report numbers) that I had on the other burglaries not reported in the Northwest Herald, alongside of the information Mary McCann had, including the residences on Carmak Rd, Kishwaukee Valley Rd, Tomlin Ave, two locations on River Road, Constance Lane, and Koda Ridge. I think they were surprised we had this information. Just my opinion. They did say they will "check into them."

They did discuss there were two burglaries in the Blackstone subdivision on St. Andrews Drive on Friday August 26th.

I let them know that myself, and many citizens are looking at this 'lack of reported information' as a cover up. I told them that in Marengo alone, with over 7,000 citizens, they had 14,000 eyes to help them and asked why they wouldn't want to utilize us. They assured me it wasn't a cover up, and that they were "working on a better system to get information to the citizens."

The Officers believe these are two different rings of people. One ring, they believe, are Gypsies; they smooth talk elderly citizens into their homes with no forced entry, distract the elderly (like what happened on Ridgeview), and take things such as jewelry and other small items they can put in their pockets, without the victim ever being aware of having been burglarized. The other is a ring of people that are using forced entry when nobody is home, for example: breaking windows and forcing doors open, stealing things like guns, electronic equipment and jewelry.

I personally spoke to the victims on Ridgeview Ln. They are MY neighbors. That particular burglary happened on Friday, August 19th, and a police report WAS filed. I actually SAW the card handed to them by Officer Ralph Pucci and I gave Zinke the police report number. These victims actually SAW the burglars and their white or grey small truck (possibly a small pickup) with a creme colored stripe, horizontally down the side. On the day of the burglary, the victims were told by Officer Pucci that they would send someone back to their residence to look over photos. I asked Zinke why the victim's report on Ridgeview Ln. was never followed up by a visit from the Sheriff. I told him they haven't sent anyone back yet and it's been 8 days. Zinke said they would send someone out as soon as they "looked into it." Zinke considered that burglary a "Gypsy Raid."

I was curious as to why, if the victims on Ridgeview Ln. actually SAW the burglars, they didn't send out a sketch artist. Zinke said there is no available sketch artist for our county that he was aware of. I suggested Huntly because I "heard" they had one there but it wasn't confirmed. The Undersheriff again said that they would "look into it." WHY IN THE WORLD DO WE NOT HAVE A SKETCH ARTIST IN MCHENRY COUNTY??? I guess I'll never know. I also asked why they didn't take fingerprints. He said "all surfaces don't lend themselves to good fingerprints." I'm still not sure what that was supposed to mean.

We then discussed a potential "Crime Watch Organization" via social media (the internet/emails.) They said if we organized it, they would give us their full cooperation to report both completely and accurately. Mary McCann, the officers, and I, all discussed that it would be best if the information came from the Sheriff's department directly, to one of the County officials, THEN dispersed to someone, (I volunteered) to be the person to email as many citizens in McHenry county as we can. Mary McCann offered to find a broad contact list. Of course I will make sure I include each of you on my contact list that received THIS email firsthand.

In gathering email contacts, I may ask for your help in the near future with other email contacts in McHenry County (including Marengo).  We'll see. First, we'll have to wait and see what the Sheriffs office are willing to offer.  Wish us luck.

Don't hesitate to call me if you have any other questions: (815)568-1190....and no I don't mind if you pass this email on and include my name and phone number.

Stay safe, stay vigilant,
Kristin Ottolino

CC: Everyone on my contact list in the McHenry County area.


Editor's comment: McHenry County participates in MCAT - which stands for something like Major Crimes Action Taskforce. What this means to taxpayers is that each department doesn't have to staff every specialty. Specialists can be "borrowed" from their departments. So, if there is a sketch artist with one department, he could be borrowed. Is there one?

Ralph Pucci is a deputy with the McHenry County Sheriff's Department.  When he told the victims that they would be contacted, I'm sure he believed they would be.

4 comments:

Midnight Rider Review said...

PRE-ELECTION 2010, MANY tried to "Warn" the citizen's of McHenry County "WHAT" it was there were "REALLY" getting with Nygren!!

You voted for him, He's your baby!

Hope you're all happy with the Sheriff. Why didn't he meet with you in person, citizen's?

Well...you reap what you sew! Maybe next time, you will listen to all the "Lies" told about the Sheriff!

The "Lies" in fact, were "Truth!"

Kristin Ottolino said...

Gus, thanks for getting the word out. Yeah, I know, I spelled "cream" wrong. oops.

I have to admit, I'm still having a hard time with the term "Gypsies." I'm sorry, I call them "thugs." For anyone to dupe elderly people into letting them into their homes with the intention of stealing from them, in my opinion, makes them no different then the ones that break into homes without people home. Thugs are thugs. Thieves are thieves, you can call them whatever you want but these should NOT be in any separate "category" in my opinion. But, again, I am just a mere citizen. What do I know.

And didn't Gypsies go out in the 1940's? Last time I checked, it was 2011. Ugh.

Kristin Ottolino said...

I'd like to make a correction to this post. I do remember the Undersheriff mention that they have a computer that does composites- essentially sketches. They bring the computer to the house. I will always correct inaccuracies when I get them or remember them. But I was correct in that they do not have a sketch artist.

Gus said...

A Marengo-area woman watched a greenish SUV come up her driveway last Friday and pull up to her
garage. It pulled away and left when she went to the window.

Every suspicious vehicle should be reported. Police and deputies will make contact and learn the identities of the vehicle occupants and note the vehicle registration.

And who knows? They might even ask about the TVs and tools and guns in the back of the SUV.