Woman charged with stealing bumper

By Bob Bong 

A Crete woman was charged last week with the theft of a bumper from a vehicle in Palos Heights.

Police said they were notified on August 31 by an employee of a business in the 11900 block of South Harlem Avenue that the front bumper of his personal vehicle had been stolen.

Police said the victim had listed the vehicle for sale on Facebook marketplace and had interest from one subject, who asked questions, including whether or not the bumper had ever been repaired or replaced.

Video was obtained from multiple sources near the parking lot and a suspect vehicle was identified.

Investigators went to multiple addresses associated with the suspect vehicle’s owner and his girlfriend.   When contact was made with the vehicle’s owner, the stolen bumper was observed on his property.

Police learned that the girlfriend, identified as Malaine G. Lebron, had been in possession of the suspect vehicle on the date of the theft.

Phone records were obtained for Lebron, which placed her at the address of the theft on the date and time of the offense.

Detectives contacted Lebron, who agreed to turn herself in.

On January 11, Lebron, 30, of Crete, was charged with one count of felony theft.