Prosecutors say a 33-year-old girl used a fabricated story about her youngster needing insulin to lure victims into her automobile and take tons of of {dollars} on the North Facet, together with one encounter that escalated right into a bodily wrestle by which her 12-year-old daughter joined in by punching the sufferer.
Based on a detention submitting, the primary theft occurred about 12:45 p.m. on December 2 within the 3800 block of West Belmont Avenue. The sufferer was strolling north on Kedzie Avenue when he stopped subsequent to a white Jeep Compass with Gilda Cranberry Miller within the entrance passenger seat. A person was driving the SUV and Miller’s 12-year-old daughter was within the again seat, prosecutors mentioned.
Miller allegedly rolled down the window and requested the sufferer for cash, claiming she wanted to purchase insulin for her daughter. When the sufferer mentioned he didn’t have any money, prosecutors mentioned, Miller supplied to take him to a financial institution to make a withdrawal. Earlier than moving into the automobile, the sufferer took pictures of the Jeep’s license plate and Miller’s driver’s license.
The driving force took the group to a close-by PNC Financial institution, the place the sufferer withdrew $500 from a drive-through ATM and handed the cash to Miller. Prosecutors say Miller then requested for more cash. When the sufferer declined and requested for the unique $500 again, the driving force took them to a close-by comfort retailer.
Video allegedly confirmed Miller ordering the sufferer to get out of the Jeep on the comfort retailer. Miller and the driving force received out of the SUV, opened the rear passenger door, and grabbed the sufferer by his legs and arms and tried to bodily pull him out of the automobile, prosecutors mentioned. In the course of the wrestle, Miller’s 12-year-old daughter started punching the sufferer within the head, however the sufferer managed to stay contained in the automobile, in response to the allegations.
Prosecutors mentioned Miller and the driving force returned to the entrance seats and drove off with the rear passenger door nonetheless open. The Jeep finally pulled over once more, at which level Miller gave the sufferer $120 again and claimed that was all the cash left, prosecutors mentioned. The sufferer received out, and the automobile drove away.
The sufferer reported the incident to police and supplied the pictures he had taken of the license plate and Miller’s driver’s license. He later recognized Miller in a photograph lineup.
Two days later, Miller allegedly used the identical ruse to take $240 from a lady within the 4400 block of North Pulaski Street.
A Skokie detective who acquired a bulletin in regards to the crime acknowledged Miller, and a CPD detective assigned to the case later discovered Miller and her daughter standing exterior the Jeep on the Northwest facet. Backup officers arrived and arrested Miller.
Based on a detention submitting, Miller advised detectives that nobody in her household has diabetes and that she has used the ruse about her daughter needing insulin to steal cash “a number of occasions” from different victims.
Decide John Hock ordered Miller detained. She is charged with theft and theft by deception.
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