Two criminal incidents took place outside Solider Field before Sunday’s NFC championship game between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, according to Chicago police.

Betram Drew, a 48 year-old Milwaukee resident, allegedly stole two Bears-Packers tickets — valued at $642 total — from another person right before the game started.

After being notified of the theft, officers reportedly observed Drew showing someone the two tickets. The suspect told police that he wanted to sell the tickets. An officer then grabbed the tickets and saw that the seat numbers matched the ones described by the victim. Drew was taken into custody. Police also reported finding a packet of brownish powder suspected to be heroin, in his waistband.

Meanwhile, Cornelius Mitchell, a 37 year-old Chicago resident, allegedly sold two phony game tickets right before kickoff. The victim said that she bought the tickets for $300. When she attempted to enter the stadium, a ticket agent said the tickets were counterfeit. She then identified Mitchell, who the police took into custody.

Felony charges were not sought against Mitchell, because he claimed to not have known the tickets were counterfeit when he sold them, according to police

A robbery took place on a CTA Red Line train on Jan. 17. A passenger told police that he was on a southbound train — and all alone in the train car — when the offender boarded the train. The offender sat across from the victim and said, “What are you looking at?” He then said, “Give me your money.”

The offender did not have a weapon, but the victim feared for his safety and handed over $80. The offender then ordered the victim to give him his iPhone, valued at $600. He then instructed the victim to leave the train at the next stop, the Cermak-Chinatown station.

The victim complied and then reported the crime to CTA staff.

Almost $15,000 in property and identification cards was stolen from a residence in the 1700 block of South State Street last week.

The victim said that she came home on the afternoon of Jan. 17 to find thousands of dollars worth of clothing missing as well as a Toshiba laptop, valued at $500. Also missing were her Blackberry, state identification card and social security card.

No one is so far listed as a suspect. Only one other person had keys to the residence, according to the police report.

The owner of a 2004 Audi parked on the street in the 1200 block of South Prairie Avenue last week told police that someone stole the GPS unit from the vehicle.

On Jan. 21 the victim told police that the car’s driver’s side window had been broken out, allowing entry to the vehicle.

A man was ready to leave Xsport Spa, 819 S. State St., on the night of Jan. 19 when he discovered his gym locker had been broken into. The victim said that his wallet, gym bag and street clothes were all missing.

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By Bear down from South Loop
Posted: 02/07/2011 4:39 PM

Is it any surprise that criminal acts would result from the sale of Bears tickets. People need money and plenty of people are willing to pay big money for Bears tickets. Supply and demand... the crime will continue to happens and sometimes the criminals will get caught.