Was it an assault and theft, or was it something else?

Barrington Police are investigating a claim that two boys knocked down an elderly woman and then stole her phone. 

Police received a call on Sunday, Sept. 6 at about 5:40 p.m. from a woman who was with the elderly resident — the caller told police that the 84-year-old woman was claiming to have been pushed off her bicycle by two juveniles. She also said that she dropped her phone and the boys took off with it. 

Police responded to the scene — near Wood Avenue off Maple — and spoke to the elderly woman. Police said the woman had scrapes on her chin and elbow. 

But the more she spoke, the more times her story changed, said police. Officers also realized that the woman had filed an earlier report that was later shown to be unsubstantiated. 

On Monday morning, Sept. 7, Barrington Police began to canvas the area looking for video footage from a nearby home or store that showed the incident or captured images of the two alleged assailants. Police also stopped by the woman’s home. While they were there, police called the woman’s phone and it started to ring inside the house. Police said they found the phone inside the woman’s bathrobe pocket. 

On Tuesday morning, Sept. 8, Barrington Police said they believe it is more likely that no crime occurred. Police said they are working to confirm that.