PALOS HEIGHTS' BIGGEST DRUG BUST ALSO ITS ODDEST

Palos Heights police were bewildered Thursday by the circumstances
surrounding the town's largest and strangest drug seizure: 1,600
pounds of marijuana found inside a rental truck, minus the driver,
left running with the keys in the ignition.

"We've never had a seizure this size before. It is by far the biggest
we've ever made," said Lt. Bill Turner. The marijuana was found in 71
plastic-wrapped bales, each weighing 10 to 30 pounds. The drug had a
value of about $1 million, he added.

Police found a 24-foot-long Ryder rental truck shortly after 10 p.m.
Wednesday in the parking lot of a supermarket in the 6400 block of
West 127th Street. An unidentified caller to police had reported the
truck was left running there, Turner said.

The truck was rented from a Chicago-area location but was rented with
fictitious information and paid for in cash.

The truck had been rented for a couple of days and was due back
Thursday, Turner said.

No one was in the vicinity of the truck and no arrests had been made
by Thursday evening, police said.

"There's a local drinking spot in that business complex, and it's
possible the offender was inside and saw officers around the truck and
decided he didn't want to come back," Turner said.

Police became suspicious of the truck's contents because they could
smell marijuana while near the truck, Turner added.

The Palos Hills police canine unit was called in to assist, and its
dog detected drugs in the vehicle.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry