Unattended food ignites on resident’s stovetop

Food left on a stove caught fire Wednesday at McManus Living-Learning Center, 1725 Orrington Ave., police said.

Someone reported smoke coming from a third floor room at 7:24 p.m., University Police Deputy Chief Dan McAleer said. Police and firefighters broke down the door when they found it locked. Inside, they found flames and food that appeared to have been left cooking.

Firefighters extinguished the fire and cleared the smoke, McAleer said. They called the room’s resident and contacted facilities management, which repaired the door. There was no structural damage, and the resident can still inhabit the building.

Audio equipment stolen from Montessori School

Someone stole $200 worth of audio equipment from Chiaravelle Montessori School, 425 Dempster St., between April 2 and April 6, police said.

The school reported a portable stereo and a CD player missing from a classroom, said Evanston Police Department Cmdr. Tom Guenther. Police do not know how the thief entered the building and have no suspects. The investigation is ongoing.­- REBECCA COHEN