This week Crime Stoppers would like to make you aware the Springfield Police Department has noticed an increase in Facebook Market Place scams.  To avoid being a victim, research the seller’s profile and be wary of fake accounts with few pictures, friends and posts.  Look to see if they have recently joined Facebook or if they have been on the platform for a while.  While conducting online transactions, consider using a designated E-Commerce Exchange Zone like the lobby of the Springfield Police Department, for safety.

 If you have any information about a crime call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 217-788-8427, submit a tip on this website, Cashfortips.US or use the P3 app.  If your tip results in an arrest you could receive a cash reward up to $2,500.  Remember Crime Stoppers only wants your information, not your name.

With several recent thefts from unattended purses, and the holiday shopping season ahead, Crime Stoppers wants to bring this all too common crime to the forefront this week. We also want you to look at surveillance photos of a suspect involved in a theft from a purse at Lincoln Library in downtown Springfield. These crimes can occur anytime you are out in the public whether you’re shopping, at a business office, a doctor’s appointment, or any other public place. The thieves often quietly and quickly reach into the handbag and remove items- and are on their way within seconds. Sometimes the victims aren’t even aware that the theft took place until days later making it nearly impossible to catch the perpetrator. Crime Stoppers urges you to avoid being victimized, never leave your purse open or out of your sight.

During the past few weeks, Springfield has experienced an uptick in the number of armed robberies to convenience stores, carryout restaurants, and service stations. This is not uncommon during the late fall as the days grow shorter and chillier weather brings out jackets and longer coats. It’s also the time for small business owners to become more vigilant in securing their businesses and taking extra precautions to avoid being victimized. We remind citizens to step up in the fight against crime by reporting persons engaging in activity that seems to be suspicious or unusual. If you observe criminal activity, call police when it’s safe and make good mental notes so that you can be a good witness.

On September 10, 2016, shortly after 1 AM, a home invasion occurred at a mobile home on Imperial Valley Drive and Crime Stoppers will pay a cash reward to any person who comes forward with information that leads to the arrest of the perpetrators. There were two suspects in this case, both were masked black males who entered the home, woke the victim, and struck him in the face with the semi-automatic firearm they had threatened him with. After ransacking the home, the suspects left with jewelry and other valuables. The victim was treated and released from a local hospital.
 

Police are looking for a subject who battered an 80 year old female subject in broad daylight on a sunny Sunday afternoon after he asked her for money and she didn’t immediately comply with his demand. The incident took place at the 400 block of N 2nd in Springfield, between Madison and Carpenter, on October 16th. There’s a very good surveillance photo of the coward who punched the lady several times in the face before he took her purse and left her injured with no remorse or concern for her well-being. The victim has recovered from her injuries and the purse was found nearby, now it’s time to find this heartless and gutless criminal and lock him up.

Shortly after midnight on October 12 the new Dominos Pizza location at 2660 S Sixth Street was robbed by an armed black male subject who was wearing a ski mask. The suspect entered through the rear door of the business, pointed a revolver at an employee, and demanded cash. After his demands were complied with, the suspect left through the alley at the rear of the business. Police are processing evidence left at the scene. Crime Stoppers takes tips on all types of crimes and this is a good example of how someone can earn up to $1000 for their anonymous information. In this, as in nearly all crimes, somebody else besides the perpetrator knows who did it. Call Crime Stoppers, you don’t have to give your name, just the name of the person who committed this robbery.

There’s been a series of thefts from fitness centers in the area and Crime Stoppers needs your tips to help solve these crimes. In the past week, police have taken several reports of items being stolen from lockers in the fitness centers or from cars parked outside gyms while the victims were working out. Police are investigating these thefts and hope you can help identify the thieves. Please remember that you should never leave anything of value visible in a car and always lock your car while you’re working out. Also, secure items with padlocks in fitness center lockers. In some of these incidents, the thieves removed just the credit cards and ID’s from purses and wallets and then placed thousands of dollars of charges on the cards.

A Bank Robbery suspect has targeted banks on Springfield’s west side three times in recent weeks and Crime Stoppers has surveillance photos on our website. The first robbery occurred on September 28th at the INB branch on Chatham Road and the most recent one occurred on Friday October 7th at Chase Bank on Veterans Parkway. Crime Stoppers urges you to look at the photos on our website and see if you can identify the perpetrator. The robber was a white male, perhaps in his 40’s or 50’s. In the first two robberies he had salt and pepper hair, in the most recent one it appeared he may have dyed his hair black. He has worn button down dress shirts or a polo shirt under a jacket.

For the second time in a week a bank robbery has taken place in Springfield and Crime Stoppers has new surveillance photographs on our website. The first robbery occurred on September 28th at the Illinois National Bank branch at 2601 Chatham Road. The second one occurred at about 12:30 in the afternoon on Tuesday October 3rd at the PNC bank at 3019 Chatham Road. Crime Stoppers urges you to take a look at the new photos and see if you can identify the perpetrator. You can clearly see that the robber was a white male, perhaps in his 40’s or 50’s. He had salt and pepper hair and a blue button down dress shirt.

UPDATE: Another robbery w/ same suspect at PNC bank (New pictures release) click "Read more" for new pictures

A Bank Robbery occurred on Wednesday September 28th at approximately 1 pm at the Chatham Road branch of INB near Iles avenue and Crime Stoppers is hoping your tips can help solve this crime. The perpetrator of the robbery was a white male in his 40’s who stood approximately 6 foot tall and had a slim build weighing approximately 170 pounds. He had salt and pepper hair which went to the collar. During the robbery he passed a note to a teller which implied that he had a weapon although none was seen. Police have surveillance video of the robbery and we have posted a photograph of the suspect. If you recognize the suspect, leave a tip.

This week's Crime of the Week involves a strong armed robbery which occurred at the Head West Sandwich Shop on Toronto Road in Springfield on September 1st. The victim reported that he was making preparations to open the business at approximately 9:30 am when he was battered at the rear of the business by an unknown person. The six foot tall perpetrator was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood concealing his entire face. He left the area eastbound on foot.