Southwest Side Neighborhood Calendar

Saturday, May 25th Fire Museum Open House

Runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago, 5218 South Western. Check out a refurbished old Chicago Fire Department firehouse and learn about the proud and fascinating history of firefighting in Chicago. For more information, visit www.firemuseumofgreaterchicago.org.

Tuesday, May 28th CAPS Beats 813/833

Starts at 7:00 p.m. at West Lawn Park, 4233 West 65th Street. Monthly meeting. Open to the public. Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 813 or 833 (see map), attend this meeting! 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.

Wednesday, May 29th Midway Garden Society Plant Exchange

Starts at 6:00 p.m. at the Clearing Branch Library, 6423 West 63rd Place. Monthly meeting.

 Open to the public. Bring up to three plants and participate in the group's plant exchange. Help beautify your home and the Midway area in the general! For more details, click here.

Friday, May 31st "Cop on Top" Fundraiser

Runs from 5:00 a.m. to noon at the Dunkin' Donuts at 6925 South Pulaski. Stop on by and help the police help Special Olympics Illinois! Details here.

Saturday, June 1st Marquette Park Reunion

Starts at 1:00 p.m. near the Rose Garden (southwest corner of the western half of the park). A highly informal, nostalgia-based gathering of people who grew up near Marquette Park. Mostly middle-aged suburbanites, but all are welcome. So grab your Frisbee, drive on over in your carpeted conversion van, blast "Frampton Comes Alive!" from your eight-track stereo, and journey back in time for a couple of hours. This event is organized via the "Marquette Park West" Facebook group.

Sunday, June 2nd Historical Tour of Garfield Ridge

Three-hour tour by bus. Starts at 1:00 p.m. at the Chicago Portage National Historic Site, 4800 South Harlem. See a number of fun and quirky sites that helped make Garfield Ridge the great place it is. Advance tickets on sale now. This tour was sold out in 2012, so reserve your seat on the bus today! Click here for details.

Tuesday, June 4th West Elsdon Civic Association

Starts at 7:30 p.m. at Divine Word Polish National Catholic Church, 3842 West 57th Street. Quarterly meeting. Open to the public. Free coffee and snacks. One of Chicago's oldest neighborhood improvement associations. Join it and make West Elsdon a safer and better place!

Wednesday, June 5th CAPS Beats 815/821

Starts at 7:00 p.m. at St. Bruno School, 4839 South Harding (south entrance). Monthly

meeting. Open to the public. Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 815 or 821 (see map), attend this meeting! 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.

Thursday, June 6th CAPS Beat 834

Starts at 7:00 p.m. at Bogan High School, 3939 West 79th Street. Monthly meeting. Open to the public. Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 834 (see map), attend this meeting! 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.

Thursday, June 6th-Sunday, June 9th St. Joe's Carnival

Usually the first parish carnival of the year in the area, and certainly one of the best! Thrilling rides for the young and young at heart, carnival midway games of skill and chance. Food

tent, beer on tap, live entertainment! Details coming soon! Mark your calendars now and plan to be at St. Joseph Church and School, just one-half block west of 56th and Harlem.

Wednesday, June 12th CAPS Beat 812

Starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Clearing Branch Library, 6423 West 63rd Place. Monthly meeting. Open to the public. Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 812 (see map), attend this meeting! 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.

Wednesday, June 12th Archer Heights Civic Association

Starts at 7:30 p.m. at the UNO Veterans Memorial Campus, 47th and Kildare. Monthly meeting. Open to the public. If you live in Archer Heights and want to get involved, this is THE group to join. One of Chicago's oldest and most effective neighborhood organizations. Hear updates on a range of community concerns and find out how you can help make a difference! Free coffee and treats afterward.

Thursday, June 13th CAPS Beat 814

Starts at 7:00 p.m. at Vittum Park, 5010 West 50th Street. Monthly meeting. Open to the public. Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 814 (see map), attend this meeting! 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.

Monday, June 17th Garfield Ridge Civic League

Starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Risen Savior Assemblies of God Church, Emmaus Outreach Food Pantry, 6059 South Archer (rear door). Monthly meeting. Open to the public. Free coffee and snacks. Free parking in rear. Scheduled guest speaker is State Senator Martin A. Sandoval, who will deliver his annual "State of the District" address. Voluntary cash raffle. Attendees are asked to bring several cans of soup, fruit or dry food items for distribution the following morning at the food pantry.

Tuesday, June 18th Electronics Recycling and Document Shredding

Runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Polish Highlanders Hall, 4808 South Archer. Drop off your old electronic items, such as TVs, computers, batteries, cell phones, TV remote controls, fax machines and home appliances. Shred your unwanted personal paper documents for free onsite. Sponsored by 14th Ward Alderman Edward M. Burke, in conjunction with Midway Document Destruction and Vintage Tech Recyclers. For more information, call (773) 471-9246.

Tuesday, June 18th CAPS Beat 811

Starts at 7:00 p.m. at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 5550 South Merrimac. Monthly meeting. Open to the public. Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 811 (see map), attend this meeting! 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.

Wednesday, June 19th Blood Drive

Runs from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran School, 5259 South Major. Sponsored by 14th Ward Alderman Edward M. Burke and 23rd Ward Alderman Michael R. Zalewski, in conjunction with Heartland Blood Centers. Did you know that on average, someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds? Here is your chance to step forward, roll up your sleeve and help out! Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended. For more information, visit www.heartlandbc.org or call 1-800-786-4483.

Thursday, June 20th Online CAPS Meeting to Discuss Gangs

Runs from noon to 1:00 p.m. online. All are welcome to participate. Featured topic of discussion is gangs. Featured participants are Eighth District tactical officers. Details here.

Thursday, June 20th-Sunday, June 23rd St. Dan's Summerfest

This year, fest organizers are promising a "new exciting layout." Four days of fun at 54th and Natoma with rides, carnival games, raffles, food, beer garden and more. Live entertainment led by Bad Medicine at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, Maggie Speaks at 8:00 p.m. Friday, Stereo Types at 6:00 p.m. Saturday, Hillbilly Rockstarz at 9:00 p.m. Saturday, and Infinity at 7:00 p.m. Sunday.

Sunday, June 23rd Annual "Urban Garden Walk"

If you want to see a handful of the very best gardens in the Midway area (and really, the entire Chicago area), this is a great chance. See local gardens lush with beauty and a few fun and quirky surprises. This annual event is sponsored by the Midway Garden Society. Details coming soon. Until then, check out highlights of the 2012 Garden Walk here.

Tuesday, July 2nd "Life of Pi" at Wentworth Park

Starts at dusk, weather permitting at Wentworth Park, 5625 South Mobile. Admission free. Part of the Chicago Park District's 13th Annual Movies in the Parks series. For a full schedule and more information, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.

Thursday, July 11th-Sunday, July 14th St. Symphorosa

Family Fest

Four days of fun at 62nd and Austin with rides, carnival games, raffles, food, beer tent, live entertainment and more. Details coming soon, mark your calendar now!

Thursday, July 18th "Grease: Sing With the Stars" at Normandy Park

Starts at dusk, weather permitting at Normandy Park, 6660 West 52nd Street. Admission free. Part of the Chicago Park District's 13th Annual Movies in the Parks series. For a full schedule and more information, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.

Friday, July 19th Electronics Recycling and Document Shredding

Runs from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Westport Commons Shopping Center, 3348 West 87th Street (in front of the dollar store). Drop off your old electronic items. Shred your paper documents for free. Sponsored by 18th Ward Alderman Lona Lane. For more information, call (773) 471-1991.

Thursday, July 25th "Hotel Transylvania" at Rainey Park

Starts at dusk, weather permitting at Rainey Park, 4350 West 79th Street. Admission free. Part of the Chicago Park District's 13th Annual Movies in the Parks series. For a full schedule and more information, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.

Thursday, August 1st "Ice Age: Continental Drift" at Pasteur Park

Starts at dusk, weather permitting at Pasteur Park, 5825 South Kostner. Admission free. Part of the Chicago Park District's 13th Annual Movies in the Parks series. For a full schedule and more information, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.

Friday, August 9th "Hotel Transylvania" at Archer Park

Starts at dusk, weather permitting at Archer Park, 4901 South Kilbourn. Admission free. Part of the Chicago Park District's 13th Annual Movies in the Parks series. For a full schedule and more information, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.

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Eighth District Police Host First-Ever Online CAPS Meeting; More Are Coming

While online meetings are nothing new to the business world, the Chicago Police Department dipped its toe into the water Thursday night with the Eighth District's first-ever online

McNaughton types and watches the chat on a big screen

CAPS meeting.

Though just four people chose to register (via the CPD website) and participate in the event, Commander David R. McNaughton termed it a success in some ways.

"Really, we did this just to see if it works (from a logistical and technological standpoint), and it does," he said. "From there we will move forward."

The online meeting started on schedule at 7:30 p.m. and ended at 8:04, about 10 minutes ahead of time.

The topic of discussion, as determined ahead of time by CPD, was graffiti.

There was no audio or video. The experience was akin to an AOL chat from about 10 years ago, according to one of the four participants.

Questions were screened by Sergeant Allen Cain of the Eighth District CAPS Program, and then forwarded to McNaughton for reply.

A view from behind the big screen during the event.

McNaughton participated from the station's community room, immediately after a District Advisory Council meeting he attended. Several DAC members hung around to witness the event.

While CPD officials initially said that online CAPS meetings are not meant to replace face-to-face meetings, McNaughton left the door open and said such meetings may have value during cold-weather months when some people find it difficult to get out of the house.

Because some of the questions asked about graffiti are common, McNaughton said he hopes to post a transcript of the online meeting on the Eighth District section of the CPD website. "It could be a good online resource for people with questions about any number of topics," he said.

Other CPD districts are engaged in similar activity. The 15th District on the West Side held an online, districtwide chat on May 13.

McNaughton's vow to move forward was followed up less than 24 hours later, as the commander announced that the next online, districtwide CAPS meeting will be held from noon to 1:00 p.m. Thursday, June 20. The topic will be gangs, with citizens afforded the opportunity to communicate directly with Eighth District tactical officers.

Instructions on how to register and log in can be found in the SWCP story of May 20.

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Popular Entertainment Acts to Take the Stage at St. Joseph Carnival, June 6-9th

Old favorites and hot new entertainment acts can be found on the main stage lineup for this year's carnival at St. Joseph Parish, 5641 S. 73rd Ave., Summit. (Just a half block west of the Portillo's at 56th and Harlem.)

Taking the stage from 8 to 11 p.m. Thursday, June 6 will be

Rockstar Rodeo, which bills itself as "the Midwest's Number 1 Party Country Tribute Show." Band members boast "This isn’t your daddy’s band. Covering artists like Montgomery Gentry, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, (and many more) RockStar Rodeo brings country to life in a dancing, drinking, sing along, having the time of your life event, with a high energy delivery you’ve never seen before."

Two bands will get the weekend off to a rocking start on

Friday, June 7. Classic rock cover band Decades (everything from Van Halen to Pink Floyd to Ozzy Osbourne) will play from 6 to 8 p.m., and Maggie Speaks--one of the most popular and eclectic cover bands in Chicago history--will own the stage from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Saturday, June 8 starts off with a smile, as the World's Honkiest Polka Band plays from 3 to 5 p.m. Wide-ranging

cover band Audiomatic (everything from Lady Gaga to Maroon 5 to the Beatles) will shake the stage from 6 to 8 p.m., and cover band Rendition (everything from the Rolling Stones to Pearl Jam to the Dave Matthews Band) plays from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Sunday, June 9 starts with Gypsy Influence, an internationally acclaimed rumba flamenco group, performing from 4 to 6 p.m. Then from 7 p.m. to midnight, the New Invaders ("the ultimate '60s flashback show") will blow the roof off the tent and close out the carnival.

In addition to great live entertainment, the four-day event features thrilling carnival rides, fun games of skill and chance, and a food tent will offering such traditional carnival treats as

hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, pizza, Italian beef, tacos, tamales and corn-on-the-cob. Cotton candy, ice cream, soda and water also will be available. The beer tent will be open as well. A specific food vendor lineup will be announced next week.

During the carnival run there will be special ride offers, including a four-day “unlimited rides” wristband.

All St. Joseph parishioners are welcome to attend, as well as everyone in the larger community.

For more information, call St. Joseph Church at (708) 458-0501.

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Mayor Emanuel Funds Foolishness

In a city where crime spirals out of control in many neighborhoods, yet the mayor claims he can't find funds to

hire enough police...

In a city where the mentally ill walk the streets, off their meds, because the mayor claims he can't find funds to avoid closing mental health clinics...

In a city where gangbangers and taggers deface and damage private and public property every day and night, because the mayor claims he can't find funds to hire enough graffiti-blaster crews...

Mayor Rahm Emanuel does find the resources to fund this nonsense:

Interestingly, the Emanuel Administration is not responding to our request to know how much in tax dollars this debacle is costing, where the funds came from; how these posters and bus/train ads will stop even one teenage boy from getting a girl pregnant; and why, in a time when teen pregnancy is down 33 percent in Chicago, is the Emanuel Administration rolling out a teen pregnancy campaign?

What a mess.

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Raising Awareness and Funds to Help Disabled and Hospitalized Veterans

West Lawn residents (from left) Dawn Ferrarini and Eva Swiercinski brave a wet and unseasonably cold morning to stand up for U.S. military veterans at the 7-Eleven at 55th and Kostner earlier today.

Friends of the Clearing American Legion Post 600, the two raised awareness and funds as part of the annual Poppy Day

drive to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans in communities across the nation. The two have been distributing the red crepe paper poppies for the last four years.

Want to help them help our veterans? Stop by the 7-Eleven at 55th and Kostner on Friday, May 24, from 7:00 a.m. 'til early afternoon.

The Southwest Chicago Post thanks Dawn and Eva for their work, as well as all who help out on Poppy Day. You make Chicago's Southwest Side a better place for all!

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Burke Boosts GRNW Turnout; CPD Warns About Ruse Burglaries, Home Fix Scams

Ruse burglaries, home repair scams and graffiti removal were the primary topics of discussion at this month's meeting of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch, held at St. Jane Parish's Ward Hall.

A strong turnout---nearly double the usual GRNW audience---was chalked up to the appearance of 14th Ward Alderman Edward M. Burke, featured guest speaker.

"We are grateful to Alderman Burke and his staff for getting the word out via mail to let people know about this event," stated GRNW President Al Cacciottolo. "There were many

people here who have never been to a neighborhood watch meeting before. As successful as we have been with our efforts in the past few years, we know there's always room for growth. So it was great to see and meet new people."

Burke offered introductory remarks praising the GRNW and the larger Garfield Ridge community for its commitment to fighting crime and promoting improvement.

The alderman arranged for three Chicago Police Department officials to follow his remarks with a detailed discussion of ruse burglaries, confidence games and other crimes.

The final speaker, from the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation, talked briefly about the Emanuel Administration's efforts to fight graffiti.

None of the speakers fielded questions from the lectern, but they did stick around after the event for one-on-one questions and discussions.

The Southwest Chicago Post was on hand to capture the featured speakers' remarks on video. Over 30 minutes' worth are posted below, for everyone unable to make the meeting.

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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.

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A 20-year-old Clearing man is set to appear in court on misdemeanor charges of stealing a bicycle from an open garage a block away from his home.

Childress Harrison III of 6416 South Long will appear in Cook County Circuit Court Branch

Childress Harrison III

34-4, 151 West 51st Street, at 1:00 p.m. Monday, June 17, according to CPD.

He also is set to appear in Cook County Circuit Court in Bridgeview on Monday, June 3 to answer to bail bond violation charges, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office.

At 5:10 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, CPD responded to a 911 call of a theft in progress near 64th and Lorel. They said that when they arrived on scene, they were met by a 29-year-old Clearing man who said that he saw two men walking with a purple mountain bike near 6416 South Long. Police said he further stated that the two had gone inside the house.

Another person, a 37-year-old West Lawn man, told police that he saw the two offenders take the bike from an open garage on the 6400 block of south Lorel.

Police said they investigated and took Harrison into custody, along with Stafford Williams, 21, of 3622 South State.

The bike was returned to its owner, a 60-year-old Clearing woman, police said.

Police said that Harrison and Williams matched the descriptions given by police dispatchers. Further, they were positively identified by the two witnesses.

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A 25-year-old man from the Northwest Side's Belmont Cragin neighborhood is charged with burglary after he allegedly broke into the Chicago Industrial Catalytic warehouse, 4427 West 45th Street, and stole seven catalytic converters.

Jose Cruz of 2620 North Menard is charged with burglary.

Police responding to a burglar alarm at about 10:40 a.m. Friday, May 17 said they spotted Cruz hiding under a truck backed up to the loading dock. A 49-year-old Cicero man employed at the warehouse told police he did not know Cruz, and the truck had no business being there. The seven converters were found in the truck. The employee identified them as the company's property.

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Two people were taken to Christ Hospital in stable condition after they were stabbed during a family party near 61st and Massasoit.

The crimes occurred at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Police responding to a "battery in progress" call said they saw a group of people outside a home, hollering at each other. They said they saw a 25-year-old Garfield Ridge man with two stab wounds to his body; and inside, a 39-year-old woman of the Massasoit address, also stabbed.

With CFD ambulances on the way, police asked the woman for details on what had occurred. She claimed she was not aware who stabbed her but said it happened while she was trying to break up an argument. Police said that she then became uncooperative and verbally combative with them.

Police noted that all adults at the party seemed to be intoxicated to varying degrees.

Several claimed the person who stabbed the victims is a man who lives at the address, but who apparently fled before police arrived.

Police also said that two of the men at the party are reputed gang members.

* * *

A fight at the Watra nightclub, 4758 South Pulaski, left two men nursing minor injuries.

At about 2:35 a.m. Sunday, May 19, a 23-year-old West Lawn man was on the dance floor when he was hit on the head with a beer bottle by another man.

The attack led to a multi-sided fight that spilled out onto the sidewalk, where a 26-year-old Clearing man was punched in the face.

According to the victims, the two attackers (described only as white Hispanic men) then fled in a maroon Ford Explorer.

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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, June 5. 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.

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A 19-year-old Hearst area woman told police that as she was walking near 48th and Cicero just before 4:00 a.m. Sunday, May 19, she was shot in the head by attackers wielding a BB or pellet gun.

Police interviewed her while she was being treated at Mt. Sinai Hospital. She only described her attackers as three white Hispanic boys or men in a red SUV.

* * *

A 20-year-old Back of the Yards man who told police he was walking home said he was beaten and robbed while walking on a sidewalk near 51st and Kenneth at noon Wednesday, May 15.

He said he was accosted from behind and asked "What you be about and what do you have?" He said he was then hit in the face and knocked to the ground, as one assailant pummeled him and the other went through his pockets.

He said they stole his cell phone and fled on foot. He described them only as white Hispanic boys or men ages 17-20.

* * *

A 40-year-old West Lawn woman who heard a noise near her garage at 2:45 a.m. Saturday,

SWCP public service announcement

May 18 and went to investigate, saw a burglar fleeing with a bicycle and a shop vac.

The burglar apparently broke a window to gain access to the garage near 66th and Central Park.

The criminal is described as a white Hispanic man about 5'8 tall, with long black hair.

* * *

Burglars broke into a garage near 62nd and Springfield and stole two air hammer drills and an air compressor.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 59-year-old man, at 8:00 a.m. Thursday, May 16 when he saw the overhead door off its rails.

* * *

A 33-year-old Clearing man bringing his 61-year-old mother home from a doctor's appointment found her apartment ransacked.

The crime was discovered at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, May 16. The criminals had pried open the front door of the residence near 63rd and Neenah and stolen a TV, a laptop computer and an IPad.

* * *

Burglars forced their way through a back window of a house near 78th and Keating and stole 10 gold rings and chains.

The crime was discovered by a 24-year-old babysitter when she returned to the home at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16 and found the premises ransacked. The victim, a 40-year-old man, was at work at the time.

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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, June 6. 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.

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public service announcement

A burglar entered the unlocked rear door of an apartment building near 61st and Kolmar and stole a bicycle and assorted tools from a basement storage area.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 53-year-old man, at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 15. The man told police that he and his 16-year-old son toured the neighborhood and discovered a West Lawn teenager (a former friend of his son) riding the stolen bike. They demanded and got it back without incident.

The CPD incident report gave no indication on whether the tools were recovered.

* * *

A 23-year-old Burbank man told police that he was beaten and robbed by three men on a sidewalk near 79th and Kostner at 10:20 p.m. Wednesday, May 15.

The man said he was walking to work when the crime occurred. He said that he was robbed of his cell phone and a set of keys. He described the attackers as black men age 18-20, 5'8 to 6'0 and 150-180 pounds.

Police at the scene said they saw no evidence of injuries on the man reporting the crime.

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