The Decatur Police Department needs your help in solving this week’s crime of the week.

In the early morning hours of March 29^th, 2024 Decatur Park District Police were notified that an artifact from the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center was missing from the Memorial at Lake Decatur. The artifact was described as a portion of a metal filing cabinet donated from the site of “Ground Zero.”

An investigation ensued, which included review of surveillance imagery from the area. It was determined the artifact appeared to have been removed from the Memorial on the evening of February 15^th, 2024.  Surveillance footage showed four suspects who appear to be in their teens, dressed in hooded shirts, around the Memorial site on this date.  (photos below)

If you have any information regarding this crime, please call the Decatur Park District Police at 217-422-5911 or you may call Crime Stoppers at 217-423-TIPS.  As always, with Crime Stoppers you do not have to give your name.  Crime Stoppers will pay $500 or more for information that leads to an arrest on the crime of the week.  Thank you.

The Decatur Police Department needs your help in solving this week’s crime of the week.

On March 29^th, 2024 at approximately 2:54 A.M. Decatur Police responded to Tandoori Express located at 1371 N IL Rt. 48 in reference to a burglary.  Officers arrived on scene and observed the glass on the front door to be shattered by a large chunk of concrete.  No suspects were located inside the business. 

Security footage from a nearby business shows an individual who appears to be male (unknown race) wearing a gray hooded shirt, jeans, and white shoes enter the business through the damaged front door.  This suspect was later observed exiting the business carrying a television.   

Taken from the business was a 70” Samsung television among other items which include several business checks.  These stolen checks were later attempted to be cashed at local banks in Decatur. 

The suspect who was on camera attempting to cash the stolen checks is a w/m, driving a black Pontiac Grand Prix with a temporary Illinois Registration.  (Photo of suspect and vehicle below)

If you have any information regarding this crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 217-423-TIPS.  You do not have to give your name.  Crime Stoppers will pay $500 or more for information that leads to an arrest on the crime of the week.  Thank you. 

The Decatur Police Department needs your help in solving this week’s crime of the week.

On March 29^th, 2024 Decatur Police were dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of N Edward in reference to a previous theft.  Officers were informed a red Schwinn tricycle valued at $600 was stolen from the yard of the residence.   This tricycle had a damaged silver basket attached to the back of the trike. 

Surveillance cameras from the residence were observed which captured two suspects near the property on March 28^th, 2024 at approximately 11:46P.M.  One of the suspects was observed approaching the tricycle and utilizing what appeared to be bolt cutters to cut a lock which was chaining the trike to a fence.  This same suspect was observed riding away with the trike N/B on Edward. 

The suspect who stole the trike was observed to be a w/m who had a facial covering, wearing a red/grey hooded jacket and red pants.  (Photo Below)

If you have any information regarding this crime please call Crime Stoppers at 217-423-TIPS.  You do not have to give your name.  Crime Stoppers will pay $500 or more for information that leads to an arrest on this crime.  Thank you.

The Decatur Police Department needs your help in solving this week’s crime of the week.

On February 28^th, 2024 at approximately 6:24 A.M. Decatur Police responded to the intersection of North Martin Luther King / E Pershing Road in reference to a shooting. 

Officers arrived on scene and observed a black Pontiac Sedan on the lot of Best One of Central Illinois located at 2952 North Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.  Officers located the driver and sole occupant of this vehicle with apparent gunshot wounds to his body.  The driver was a 22-year-old Decatur resident who was later pronounced deceased.  

Detectives processed the crime scene and spoke to several individuals on scene.  It was determined an unknown person or persons exited a white SUV and fired at the Pontiac at this intersection.  The white SUV then fled southbound on North Martin Luther King. 

If you have any information regarding this crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 217-423-TIPS.  You do not have to give your name.  Crime Stoppers will pay $2,500 for information that leads to an arrest on this homicide.  Thank you.

For this weeks crime of the week the Decatur Police Department is asking for the publics help in locating a violent offender who is believed to be in the Decatur area.

We are attempting to locate Nicholas Lynch who was involved in a shooting incident last month.  Nicholas is a w/m, 27yoa, 6’2”, 220lbs, with Brown hair. Nicholas has warrants for Aggravated Discharge of Firearm and Possession of a Weapon by a Felon. 

A picture of Nicholas can be observed under the “Most Wanted” tab. 

If you have any information regarding the location of Nicholas please call Crime Stoppers at 217-423-TIPS.  You do not have to give your name.  Crime Stoppers will pay $500 or more for information that leads to an arrest on this suspect.  Thank you.

***UPDATE: SUSPECT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED***

IF YOU KNOW THE LOCATION OF DAVID E SPURLIN (3/25/87), PLEASE CALL CRIME STOPPERS. 

The Decatur Police Department needs your help in solving this week’s crime of the week.

Over the past week there have several burglaries to employee vehicles parked at the Decatur Fire station located at 1415 N Water.  In these burglaries the suspect would arrive on a bicycle and utilize tools to break into the vehicles. 

The suspect was captured on surveillance camera footage wearing a black colored stocking cap, dark colored clothing, and a multi-colored backpack with designs all over. The suspect was described by one witness as being a w/m, thin build, 6’0”, and having “bad teeth.”

Pictures of the suspect can be observed below.  

If you have any information regarding these burglaries, please call Crime Stoppers at 217-423-TIPS.  You do not have to give your name.  Crime Stoppers will pay $500 or more for information that leads to an arrest on the crime of the week.  Thank you.

The Decatur Police Department needs your help in solving this week’s crime of the week.

On January 23^rd, 2024 at approximately 8:30 P.M. Decatur Police were responded to the intersection of N Morgan / E Grand Ave. in reference to a shooting. 

Officers arrived on scene and spoke to a victim who advised he just left a nearby convenience store after utilizing an ATM machine.  The victim advised as he was walking he was approached by a suspect who pointed a chrome colored handgun at him.  This suspect demanded money and shot the victim in the leg.  The suspect took an undisclosed amount of currency from the victim and ran in a N/E direction from the scene. 

The suspect was described as a light skinned black male, approximately 19 – 20 years of age, 5`10″ – 6` in height, thin build, wearing a gray and black colored hooded shirt, gray colored sweat pants, and black ski mask.  The suspect had a low fade haircut and crooked teeth.

If you have any information regarding this robbery, please call Crime Stoppers at 217-423-TIPS.  You do not have to give your name.  Crime Stoppers will pay $500 or more for information that leads to an arrest on the crime of the week.  Thank you.

The Decatur Police Department needs your help in solving this week’s crime of the week.

Over the past couple of weeks there have numerous burglaries to coin operated machines at various businesses throughout the city.  All of these machines were broken into during the early morning hours. 

In one incident, nearby surveillance cameras captured two suspects involved.  Both suspects were wearing facial coverings and appear to be male. The first suspect is wearing a green hooded shirt and camouflage pants.  The second suspect is wearing dark colored clothing with a red hooded shirt.  

In another incident surveillance camera footage observed a single suspect with a dark facial covering wearing a black hooded shirt and camouflage pants.  This suspect was observed wearing a backpack and he arrived on a light-colored BMX style bicycle.

Pictures of the suspects can be observed below. (photos below)

If you have any information regarding these thefts, please call Crime Stoppers at 217-423-TIPS.  You do not have to give your name.  Crime Stoppers will pay $500 or more for information that leads to an arrest on the crime of the week.  Thank you.

The Decatur Police Department needs your help in solving this week’s crime of the week.

On December 17^th, 2023 at approximately 11:40 P.M. a suspect was observed on surveillance camera forcing entry to businesses located at the short strip mall in the 500 block of N Brush College Rd.  Once inside the suspect utilized tools and attempted to force open various gaming machines along an ATM machine.  An undisclosed amount of money was taken from the register at one of the businesses. 

The suspect in this incident is a w/m who wore a dark colored facial covering exposing only his eyes.  The suspect is wearing a black colored hooded jacket, dark colored jeans, and gray colored tennis shoes.

If you have any information regarding these burglaries, please call Crime Stoppers at 217-423-TIPS.  You do not have to give your name.  Crime Stoppers will pay $500 or more for information that leads to an arrest on the crime of the week.  Thank you.

The Decatur Police Department would like to inform the public of a common crime that has been occurring over the past couple of months.  Recently, there have been several robberies which have occurred due to FACEBOOK marketplace transactions. 

In a majority of these robberies, the victims will meet an unknown person at an unfamiliar part of town and the suspect(s) will forcibly take money or merchandise from the victim.

We would like the public to take precaution and check the profile of the individual who is either buying or selling merchandise.  If you don’t feel comfortable with the profile you are looking at then terminate the transaction.  Also, don’t meet strangers at private addresses and feel free to utilize the Decatur Police Department which is an E-Commerce safe zone. 

As always, if you have any information regarding these robberies or any crime please call Crime Stoppers at 217-423-TIPS.  You do not have to give your name.  Crime Stoppers will pay $500 or more for information that leads to an arrest on the crime of the week.  Thank you.