Demetrius Patton / photo credit: Northbrook police

(NORTHBROOK)  A north suburban man allegedly hacked into three computers, stealing “private” photos of the female owners, then demanded more, according to police.

A woman contacted Northbrook police in July and reported someone had hacked into her Facebook and Dropbox accounts and stole images of her that were “private in nature,” Northbrook Police Cmdr. Mike O’Malley said.

He then demanded the woman send him additional photos or he would release the stolen ones, O’Malley said.

Northbrook police conducted a four-month investigation and identified 24-year-old Demetrius Patton as a suspect, O’Malley said.

Authorities executed a search warrant at his home in the 2100 block Rugen Road in Glenview on Nov. 25, and seized his computer, which was sent to a crime lab, O’Malley said. Patton is unemployed and lives with his mother.

Patton was charged with two counts of soliciting child pornography and three counts of intimidation, but the investigation remains open, O’Malley said.

Two girls from the North Shore area have also been identified as victims of the scheme, and there may be more, O’Malley said.

“It’s kind of unfolding now,” he said.

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