Crime News Update

Editor's note: The crime news reported by the Southwest Chicago Post---taken directly from Chicago Police Department incident reports---is not by any means an exhaustive catalogue of all crime reported in the Chicago Lawn (8th) District. For example, it typically does not include news of crimes committed in the eastern and southern sectors of the district---because the Southwest Chicago Post's coverage area is primarily the neighborhoods that border Midway Airport and secondarily because including the relatively large volume of crime news from elsewhere in the district would be a logistical challenge. We make this note to offer a little helpful perspective and remind everyone that while crime is definitely a concern in all parts of the district (as it always has been), crime remains relatively low overall in Sector 1. May all of us work together diligently to keep it that way. May all of us also remember that a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

* * *

An armed thug made off with an undisclosed amount of cash today after hitting the TCF

TCF Bank robbery in progress.

Bank branch inside the Jewel-Osco at 6107 South Archer.

According to police, the robber walked in at about 9:50 a.m., flashed a hand gun and demanded money.

He is described as a white man age 20-25, 6'0 with green eyes.

More details available from the Chicago FBI here.

The Southwest Chicago Post has asked TCF officials if they placed or attempted to place a GPS tracking unit in the cash given to the robber, as they have done in the past at other branches; and if not, why not. TCF officials have not yet responded.

* * *

Get a $1,000 reward for a tip that helps solve a crime? Believe it! Contact the Cook County Crime Stoppers for full details.

* * *

Two men from south suburban Markham are charged with robbing a West Lawn cell phone store on Sunday, March 24.

Robert Downey

Robert Downey, 29, of 166th and Ashland and Mario Marshall, 24, of 167th and Ashland, are scheduled to answer charges in Cook County Circuit Court Branch 48, 151 West 51st Street, on Monday, April 1.

According to two employees (a 24-year-old Chicago Lawn woman and a 25-year-old Archer Heights woman) of the T-Mobile store at 6630 South Pulaski, Downey and Marshall walked in the establishment at about 5:00 p.m. One of them flashed a blue-steel pistol and said "We're here to take your phones."

One of the clerks responded by activating a silent alarm, and one of the robbers reportedly

Mario Marshall

asked "Did you just push that button?" The clerk reacted by bolting toward the back of the store, while the other remained in place. That clerk said she saw Downey and Marshall confer briefly before leaving the store, walking south through the parking lot toward the Huck Finn restaurant. The clerk said the pair then were met by a man driving a black Infiniti. The two reportedly got inside, and the car sped away west on Marquette Road.

CPD sent a "flash" message about the incident. A short time later, a Marquette Park Security District unit spotted a car

6630 South Pulaski

matching the description heading east on 71st Street, then south on Western. The MPS unit tailed the car and alerted CPD, which curbed the car in front of 7430 South Western.


Downey and Marshall were brought back to the cell phone store, where they were positively identified by the clerks.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 815 or 821 (see map), come to St. Bruno School (south entrance) at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 3. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.

* * *

A 33-year-old West Elsdon man has been arrested and charged with robbing two corner grocery stores earlier this month.

Artur Nowakowski

Artur Nowakowski of 57th and Kildare is scheduled to appear in Cook County Circuit Branch 48, 151 West 51st Street, on Monday, April 1.

He allegedly robbed La Montana grocery store, 4201 West 59th Street, at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, making off with $300 cash.

According a 28-year-old clerk on duty at the time, a man walked in and posed as a shopper. He allegedly waited for other customers to leave and then pulled a black hand gun as he said "I'm sick. Give me all the money. I need to buy medicine."

Nowakowski is also charged with robbing La Tipica grocery store, 4425 West 55th Street, at 6:50 p.m. Friday, March 1.

According to a 32-year-old clerk on duty, a man posed as a customer before pulling a black

4425 West 55th Street

hand gun as he said "Give me the money. I need medicine." The clerk told police that she then opened the register and the robber grabbed about $200 cash before fleeing in a black automobile.

Police said they apprehended Nowakowski at about 3:30 p.m. Monday, March 25---three days after his 33rd birthday---on the 5200 block of south Harding, but offered no other details on why they believe he committed the crimes.

* * *

Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 834 (see map), come to Bogan High School at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, April 4. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.

* * *

An armed robber hit Krokus Flowers, 5200 South Archer, at 1:10 p.m. Monday, March 25 and made off with $35 cash.

5200 South Archer

According to the 50-year-old woman who owns the flower shop, the crook walked in and posed as a customer. He briefly engaged her in conversation in flawless Polish, she told police, before pulling a black hand gun and demanding cash.

He ran out the door with his take, fleeing north on foot. The criminal is described as a white man age 25-35, 5'3 and 155 pounds, light complexion, wearing a black hat, black winter coat and black pants.

* * *

A pair of armed criminals hit Las Rosas Mini Market, 4302 West 55th Street, at 2:50 p.m. Monday, March 25, making off with $80 cash.

According to the grocery store's owners, a 56-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman from

4302 West 55th Street

Chicago Lawn, the crooks flashed a gun and used clumsy Spanish to order them to open the cash register ("Abre la caja") and stand still ("No te muevas") before grabbing the cash and fleeing.

Two witnesses nearby said they saw the thugs run through an alley, get into a red car and speed away.

The offenders are described as white men age 35-40, 5'6 to 5'8 and 160-180 pounds, light complexion. One has brown eyes; the other, green.

* * *

Burglars smashed a front window of the OMG Fashion Boutique, 6600 South Pulaski, and stole an iPod.

6600 South Pulaski

According to a video surveillance camera, the crime occurred at 11:29 p.m. Tuesday, March 26. The owner, a West Elsdon man, was alerted by police. The video showed the offenders to be two white Hispanic men age 18-24, 5'6 to 5'9 and 145-175 pounds. One was wearing a black bandana over his face, a red Chicago Bulls hoodie and black pants.

* * *

A 24-year-old Auburn Gresham man walking on the 8600 block of south Karlov told police he was beaten and robbed by three or four thugs at about 12:20 a.m. Tuesday, March 26.

He said that as he walked south, the offenders emerged from the alley just north of 87th Street. Two of them waved hand guns. One hit the victim in the head and knocked him to the ground while the others held him down and stole his keys, cell phone and $300 cash before running away.

He told police that one of the attackers pulled his hoodie over his face, so he did not get a good look at them. He only described them as black men.

* * *

Burglars entered the unlocked back door of a home near 62nd Place and Springfield and stole assorted jewelry.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 45-year-old woman, at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, March 24.

* * *

Burglars entered the side door of a house near 70th and Springfield and stole a TV, a PlayStation 3, a jewelry box and assorted jewelry, and $100 cash.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 25-year-old woman, at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 25.

* * *

Burglars entered the service door of a garage near 57th and Moody and stole 2005 Honda Accord, as well as an automatic garage door opener from another vehicle in the garage.

The crime was discovered by the victims, a 61-year-old woman and a 56-year-old man, at 5:50 a.m. Tuesday, March 26.

* * *

Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live

in Beat 814 (see map), come to Vittum Park at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, April 11. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.

* * *

A quick-thinking Vittum Park woman foiled a burglar she spotted in her garage when she activated her truck's panic alarm, causing the criminal to flee.

The crime occurred at 2:45 a.m. Wednesday, March 27. The 28-year-old woman told police she looked out her back window and saw someone with a flashlight in her garage (near 47th and Le Claire).

After the crook ran away and police arrived, the woman discovered that the service door of the garage had been pried open. The CPD incident report gave no indication that anything was missing from the garage.

* * *

Protect yourself, your loved ones and your property! Learn how to reduce your risk of being a burglary victim, with tips straight from ex-burglars themselves. Mark your calendar for 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 and come to the west entrance of Kennedy High School, 56th and Narragansett. Sponsored by the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch.

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Letters to the Editor

Editor's note: We respect your opinion and are privileged to share it via this website. All letters to the editor will be reviewed before being posted. We do allow anonymous comments, yet we will not allow the Southwest Chicago Post to serve as a forum for bigotry of any kind. We also will not allow personal attacks against anyone, including elected officials and other public figures. On this site, all of us need to keep our tone respectful and our criticisms constructive. That's important as we work together to build better Southwest Side neighborhoods for all. So please join the conversation by sending your letter to editor@swchicagopost.com.

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Dear Editor,

As a volunteer court advocate, I want to share something I recently heard from a first grader at St. Mary Star of the Sea School.

The girl's father is a police officer working in the Eighth District. She looked at me and said "My dad knows you." I replied "Yes."

Then she said "My dad said he really likes you and your friends. He says that what you and your friends do makes him very happy and feel very good."

As a court advocate, I have heard words of thanks from the victims and witnesses we assist, the police officers we support, prosecutors and even judges. But hearing it from a little girl was unique and touching.

If you would like to find out how rewarding court advocacy can be, try it for just one day. We will walk you through it. It is probably the easiest volunteer work you will ever do on behalf of your neighborhood. To learn more, call 312-747-9724 or read this article about us in the Southwest Chicago Post.

http://www.swchicagopost.com/2012/06/eighth-district-court-advocates-playing.html

Dawn Ferrarini
West Lawn

* * *

Editor:

Thanks for the information and photos of the demolition at Heritage Manor/Yugoslav Hall.

I know that projects like this do not move forward in Chicago without the support of the local alderman. So I want to know what in the h~ll the alderman was thinking when he gave this idea his support. Shoehorn seven houses into that small space?! I think most of us can predict what will happen and who will wind up living there.

Anonymous

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Editor,

I see you got scooped by the Southwest News-Herald on the police announcement at the Eighth District Station. Guess you're not everywhere, huh?

Anonymous

Editor's reply: No, we're definitely not, and we have never claimed to be. Barely a year old---our first birthday was March 17---we are a small, family-owned and operated neighborhood news service---although we are proud to add that we are definitely growing steadily in a time when other news organizations are shrinking. We were not at the CPD press conference because we did not know about it, because we were not invited. As SWCP readers know, we are not a favorite of City Hall (or our local elected officials, for that matter) because they're not a favorite of ours. Our attitude toward government and elected officials is simple and neutral, so we play it straight. We are not a billboard for political press releases and photos; and we are unafraid to ask basic questions and speak truth to power, same as most SWCP readers are. So yeah, we get left off the "invite" list a lot by politicians. By that's not a big deal to us, because we'll find a way to get the news no matter what---and in the case of last week's CPD press conference, we didn't miss much anyway. A table full of confiscated firearms and a call for tougher gun laws with aldermen and preachers adding a few amens. Sounds like a rerun to us.

* * *

Dear Editor,

I want to thank you for the free publicity you gave to our parish fundraising event. Several people I know mentioned that they had seen our flier in a prominent position on your website. It is good that you support our local schools.

Sue Lewandowski
Clearing

Editor's reply: You are very welcome. It was our pleasure to help our good friends at St. Sym's. We cheerfully offer free publicity and advertising to all Southwest Side not-for-profits, something no other neighborhood newspaper does. You are committed to making the Southwest Side a better place. So are we.

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Crime News Update

Editor's note: The crime news reported by the Southwest Chicago Post---taken directly from Chicago Police Department incident reports---is not by any means an exhaustive catalogue of all crime reported in the Chicago Lawn (8th) District. For example, it typically does not include news of crimes committed in the eastern and southern sectors of the district---because the Southwest Chicago Post's coverage area is primarily the neighborhoods that border Midway Airport and secondarily because including the relatively large volume of crime news from elsewhere in the district would be a logistical challenge. We make this note to offer a little helpful perspective and remind everyone that while crime is definitely a concern in all parts of the district (as it always has been), crime remains relatively low overall in Sector 1. May all of us work together diligently to keep it that way. May all of us also remember that a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

* * *

A 64-year-old neighbor who saw something suspicious but did not call police may have missed an opportunity to foil a burglary at a home in the Scottsdale neighborhood.

The crime occurred on the morning of Tuesday, March 19, when a burglar broke through a back window of a house near 77th and Kenton and stole an iPad and a high school ring. The home's owner, a 33-year-old woman, was at work at the time and discovered the crime later when she came home.

Interviewed later by police, the neighbor said he had seen a grey Honda parked at the curb, with two young men inside. He said that the man on the passenger side got out of the car and walked up the victim's driveway. By the time neighbor walked outside to investigate, the young man was gone--and possibly inside the victim's house, the neighbor told police.

The neighbor only described the two individuals as white Hispanic men in their late teens. Both were bald.

* * *

A criminal made off with about 30 Swisher Sweets cigarillos after robbing the BP gas station at 6702 South Pulaski.

BP station at 6702 South Pulaski

The crime occurred at 5:22 a.m. Saturday, March 23. The offender walked in and, while implying that he had a weapon by putting his hand in his pocket, demanded Newport cigarettes. When the BP clerk refused, the crook grabbed the Swisher Sweets and bolted out the door.

He jumped into a white SUV (a Chevy Tahoe or Suburban) and sped away south on Pulaski. The clerk described him to police as a man 20-22 years old, 5'7 and 150 pounds, black hair, olive complexion, wearing a white hoodie and blue jeans.

* * *

Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 813 or 833 (see map), come to West Lawn Park at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 26. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.

* * *

Burglars broke through a back basement window of a home near 49th and La Crosse and stole a PlayStation 3, two iPods, two credit cards, a backpack and $6,000 cash.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 48-year-old woman, when she returned home at 11:25 p.m. Saturday, March 23 and found her home ransacked.

* * *

Burglars kicked in the side door of a home near 60th and Hamlin and stole a TV, a PlayStation 3 and six games, a laptop computer and an iPad.

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The crime was discovered by the victim, a 28-year-old man, at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 22.

* * *

Burglars opened a back window of a house near 83rd Place and Kilpatrick and stole a Gucci watch valued at $1,500.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 19-year-old man, when he returned home at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 22.

Someone or something apparently interrupted the crime, because the victim saw several valuables stacked on a bed, as if they had been readied to be taken away.

* * *

A 25-year-old West Lawn man foiled a burglary in his home near 65th Place and Springfield.

The man told police that at about 4:40 p.m. Friday, March 22, he was in his basement and heard footsteps on the floor above him. He ran upstairs and found a burglar on the main floor.

The burglar ran out the door. The victim then discovered that a laptop computer and assorted jewelry were missing, and that the back door was damaged.

The victim described the burglar only as a man wearing a dark hoodie.

* * *

Burglars forced open the back door of a home near 78th and Kostner and stole two laptop computers, an iPod, a cell phone and assorted jewelry.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 49-year-old woman, at 4:00 p.m. Friday, March 22.

* * *

Burglars forced open a side basement window of a home near 53rd and Kildare and stole a TV, a laptop computer, an IPad, a PlayStation 3 and two Dolce & Gabbana jackets.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 22-year-old man, when he returned from vacation at 4:10 p.m. Thursday, March 21.

* * *

Protect yourself, your loved ones and your property! Learn how to reduce your risk of being a burglary victim, with tips straight from ex-burglars themselves. Mark your calendar for 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 and come to the west entrance of Kennedy High School, 56th and Narragansett. Sponsored by the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch.

# # #

Crime News Update

Editor's note: The crime news reported by the Southwest Chicago Post---taken directly from Chicago Police Department incident reports---is not by any means an exhaustive catalogue of all crime reported in the Chicago Lawn (8th) District. For example, it typically does not include news of crimes committed in the eastern and southern sectors of the district---because the Southwest Chicago Post's coverage area is primarily the neighborhoods that border Midway Airport and secondarily because including the relatively large volume of crime news from elsewhere in the district would be a logistical challenge. We make this note to offer a little helpful perspective and remind everyone that while crime is definitely a concern in all parts of the district (as it always has been), crime remains relatively low overall in Sector 1. May all of us work together diligently to keep it that way. May all of us also remember that a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

* * *

Released on Thursday afternoon by the Chicago office of the FBI.

A robber hit the Fifth Third Bank near 87th and Kedzie.

A little east of the SWCP coverage area, but worth a look for all Southwest Siders.

* * *

Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 813 or 833 (see map), come to West Lawn Park at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 26. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.

* * *

Several Garfield Ridge neighbors worked together to chase, out-muscle and hold two gangbangers who allegedly were caught trespassing in a vehicle near 58th and Monitor.

Jorge Manzo, 18, of 48th and Le Claire and Matthew Juarez, 25, of Springfield, Illinois, were arrested by police and are scheduled to answer to misdemeanor charges in Cook County Circuit Court Branch 34 on April 30, 2013, according to police.

The incident began just minutes after 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 19 when a 24-year-old Garfield Ridge man in his home heard his car alarm sounding. He told police that he looked out a window and saw Manzo and Juarez standing at his vehicle.

He said he quickly pulled on a coat and walked outside to confront the pair. When he got outside, he said he saw the two sitting inside a different vehicle parked nearby. (The vehicle is owned by a 21-year-old neighbor.)

The man told police that when he hollered "Hey!" at Manzo and Juarez, they asked "What the f~ck you want?"

The man said when he walked toward the pair, they got out of the car and fled on foot, east on 58th Street.

Several neighbors who heard the commotion came out of their homes and gave chase, detaining Manzo and Juarez for police. The two allegedly threatened the neighbors during the chase and apprehension, saying "Get the f~ck away from me! You don't know who you're messing with!" They also reportedly shouted a gang slogan.

Police noted that when they arrived to arrest the pair, Manzo and Juarez had minor abrasions on their skin.

* * *

An armed thug robbed La Montana grocery store, 4201 West 59th Street, at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, making off with $300 cash.

According a 28-year-old clerk on duty at the time, the robber walked in and posed as a shopper. He waited for other customers to leave and then pulled a black gun as he said "I'm sick. Give me all the money. I need to buy medicine."

The clerk complied and the criminal fled the store, got into a maroon Nissan Sentra and sped away east through an alley.

The crook is described as a white man age 50-55, 5'2 to 5'5 and 130-150 pounds, blue eyes, light complexion with a tattoo under his right eye. He was wearing a black hoodie, dark blue jeans, tan skull cap, black gloves and tan boots.

* * *

Burglars pried open the service door of a garage near 47th and Lawler and stole a tool box with hand tools, a wet vacuum and cleaning supplies.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 40-year-old man, at 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 20.

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Scottsdale Woman Wins $25,000 in Raffle By Hope Institute for Children and Families

A Scottsdale woman is the winner of the first early bird drawing in the Hope Institute for Children and Families’ Dream House Raffle.

Dr. Andrea Lacayo, pediatric dentist

Dr. Andrea Lacayo, a pediatric dentist, had the choice between $25,000 or a Mini Cooper, Toyota Prius or Ford Mustang. She chose the money, but doesn’t intend to go on vacation or a shopping spree.

“Since I have my own business, I will pay some people I owe money to,” Lacayo says.

Lacayo purchased her $150 raffle ticket in time for the first early bird drawing and will be eligible for subsequent drawings, as well as the grand prize. To be entered into the next early bird drawing for $5,000 or the choice of trips to 5 luxury destinations, tickets must be purchased by March 29.

The grand prize is a luxurious 3,900 square-foot custom home located in the Gold Coast in downtown Chicago. The three-bedroom home includes four and a half baths, a 2,600 square-foot private terrace with panoramic city views, a gourmet chef’s kitchen featuring a 250-bottle wine fridge, two family rooms, two guest suites and a private gym.

When the Hope Institute called it an "early bird" drawing, they weren't kidding.

“I was very surprised when they called me at 6 a.m.,” she recalls.

The call came from WGN Radio, where representatives from Hope Institute stood by.

“They woke me up. I thought they were kidding,” Lacayo recalls. “I never won anything and I really wasn’t expecting the call. I still can’t believe it.”

It was Lacayo’s first time donating to the Hope Institute.

“I thought 'if I win, I win; and if I don’t, it will help the children,'” she says.

Lacayo, originally from Leon, Mexico, came to the U.S. when she was 13. She owns her own dental practice, Smile Lee Faces, at 4197 S. Archer in the Brighton Park neighborhood. She has been a practicing pediatric dentist for almost 20 years. She graduated from Loyola School of Dentistry.

The Hope Institute will sell up to 50,000 tickets for The Chicago Dream House Raffle. As incentive to purchase tickets early, the raffle includes cash prizes of up to $25,000 in each of three early bird drawings for tickets purchased before the deadlines of March 1, March 29 and April 26. Other early bird prizes include the winner’s choice of a Mini Cooper, Toyota Prius or a Ford Mustang and trips to Prague, Czech Republic; Vienna, Austria; Maui, Hawaii; Jamaica and more.

The grand prize drawing deadline is May 24 and the drawing will be held on June 9. For a complete list of prizes, go to http://www.chicagoraffle.com.

Any individual who buys three or more tickets is automatically entered into a multi-ticket drawing for a chance to win a 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 Roadster or $50,000 cash. Multiple tickets purchased at the same time are eligible for discounts.

If ticketholders refer a friend to purchase a ticket, they will be included in the Refer-a-Friend drawing and given the chance to win $15,000 cash or a Smart Car. 

For photos and descriptions of the Dream House, go http://www.chicagoraffle.com/Photos.aspx.

To enter the Raffle, call 1-800-697-7734, or go to www.ChicagoRaffle.com and register online. Forms can be mailed to The Hope Institute at 15 East Hazel Dell Lane, Springfield, IL 92712. Entrants may also print online ticket forms and fax them to 312-254-5013. Ticket purchasers must be 18 years or older, have US residency and meet other requirements in the Rules and Regulations as specified on http://www.chicagoraffle.com/Rules.aspx.

 
The Chicago Dream House Raffle sponsors include ABC 7, Comcast, Kinzie, Boka Restaurant Group, Black Hawk Charities, O’Briens, Pearson and Ethan Allen. 

About the Hope Institute for Children and Families

Since 1957, The Hope Institute has provided living, learning and health care services to children with multiple developmental and physical disabilities from across Illinois. For more information, go to http://www.thehopeinstitute.us/ or call (217) 585-KIDS.

2013 Chicago Dream House Raffle Schedule

                                   

Date	Event	Prizes awarded
March 29	Early bird II deadline
April 10	Early bird II drawing
April 26	Early bird III deadline	1st prize winner’s choice of $5,000 cash or choice of trips to Prague, Czech Republic or Vienna, Austria 2nd prize winner’s choice of $5,000 cash or trip to either Maui, Hawaii or Jamaica
May 8	Early bird III drawing
May 24	Grand prize drawing deadline	$5,000 cash or winner’s choice of a trip to Costa Rica or Quebec City, Montreal & Toronto
June 9	Grand prize, Multi-ticket, Refer-a-friend drawings
		Dream House, $1.5 Million annuity or $1 million lump sum cash, $45,000 cash or a choice between Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz C 250 Coupe, BMW X3, and nearly 1200 other prizes.  The multi ticket prize is choice between SLK 350 Roadster or $50,000 in cash.

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