Friday, April 20, 2012

Local Crime Roundup

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.

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A quick thinking cashier foiled an attempted robbery at 1:00 a.m. Thursday, April 19 at the BP gas station at 4010 South Pulaski.

The would-be robber walked in wearing a mask with mesh covering his eyes and mouth. Upon seeing him, the 45-year-old cashier ran into the cashier's booth and locked the door. The masked man then demanded to be let into the booth and thrust his hand into his pocket, implying he had a weapon.

The cashier refused to open the door and immediately called 911 on his cell phone. Upon seeing that, the masked man fled the gas station and ran north on Pulaski.

The cashier described the suspect as a 20-25-year-old black man, about 5'05 and 180 pounds.

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Burglars forced open the side door of garage near 58th and Kildare and stole a number of power tools and other items. The crime was discovered at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 18 by the victim, a 59-year-old man.

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A 21-year-old woman walking near her home at 49th and Kildare at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 17 was the victim of a strong arm robbery.

As she was walking down the sidewalk of her block, she noticed a man lurking in a gangway, who began to follow her and then lunged at her from behind. He pushed her, grabbed the gold chain from her neck and then fled on foot.

The offender is described as 17-20-year-old white Hispanic man, 5'08-5'10, 150-160 pounds, light brown complexion with a tattoo on his face, brown eyes and styled black hair. The victim told police she got a good look at the criminal's face and could identify him if she saw him again.

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A 72-year-old Vittum Park man walking on the 4900 block of Cicero at 4:50 a.m. Tuesday, April 17 was a victim of a strong arm robbery. Two men in a dark-colored car drove up. One jumped out, grabbed the man's wallet and jumped back in the car. The two sped away, west on 49th Street.

The victim described both offenders as black men, with the man who jumped out further described as 5'07, 20-25 years old.

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Burglars stole a lawnmower and two bicycles after they forced open the side door of a garage near 51st and Keating. The crime was discovered at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, April 16 by the victim, a 44-year-old man.

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Burglars stole four 20-inch chrome auto wheels (with tires), as well as 35-50 brand-new Hot Wheels toy cars still in their sealed boxes, after they forced open a service door of a garage near 53rd and Kildare.

The crime was discovered 5:20 a.m. Wednesday, April 18 by the victim, a 41-year-old man.

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All Southwest Side residents are invited to a Chicago Police burglary prevention seminar set for 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 21 in the first-floor auditorium of Daley College, 7500 South Pulaski.

The seminar will feature ex-offenders sharing their secrets on how a burglar thinks: including how they choose which home or garage to burglarize, common mistakes that homeowners make, and more----and they will offer a number of practical steps people can take to minimize their risk of being a burglary victim.


The ex-offenders are participants in the Safer Foundation’s “Keepin’ It Real” program, started by Chicago Police Officer Maudessie Jointer about five years ago to connect former criminals with the community in constructive ways.

Admission and parking are free.

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