A Calumet Park resident, Sincere Lanier, 22, has been charged in connection with a series of burglaries involving video gambling terminals, including incidents at Stella’s Place and Avenue Flower Shop and Wine Bar in Oak Lawn. According to police, Lanier was involved in breaking into these establishments using sledgehammers on March 24 and March 29, respectively.
Lanier faces Class 2 felony charges for both Oak Lawn burglaries, with additional charges for similar crimes in Worth, Posen, and Summit. Oak Lawn Mayor Terry Vorderer highlighted the significant resource drain on the police department due to these ongoing thefts. In response, the village boards of Oak Lawn and Alsip have voted to implement regulations on security foggers to deter such offenses.
During the burglary at Stella’s Place, officers attempted to pursue the offenders as they fled in a vehicle but lost them due to reckless driving. In both incidents, the burglars caused substantial damage to the gambling terminals, which can hold thousands of dollars in cash. The investigation remains active, with police continuing to gather details.
