Saturday, June 30, 2012

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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Police responding to a "burglary in progress" call at a three-flat near 47th and Springfield looked through a basement window and saw the alleged burglar, a 37-year-old Little Village man, tied up and subdued by a man old enough to be his father.

Cesar Rodriguez
Cesar Rodriguez was arrested and charged with one count of felony residential burglary and one misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property.

The incident began at about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, when a 63-year-old tenant told the 72-year-old landlord he had just heard a brick smash through a rear window of the basement apartment. The tenant went to investigate and allegedly saw Rodriguez in the basement unit, attempting to steal a drill.

The 63-year-old confronted Rodriguez and smacked him in the head a few times, causing him to fall to the floor. The tenant then used a belt to tie Rodriguez' arms behind his back and held him down on the floor until police arrived.

Police said that Rodriguez claimed that he was in the apartment only because his brother had called and said he was at the address.

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Burglars entered a garage near 61st and Karlov and stole a toolbox and with tools, a power drill, a power washer, a lawnmower, a stereo and a grill.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 35-year-old man, at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, June 28 after he returned home from a medical appointment to find his garage door open.

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A burglar broke into the basement apartment of a building near 49th and Kolin and stole a laptop computer at 8:00 a.m. Thursday, June 28.

He may have stolen more, had he not been seen on the back porch by the 16-year-old daughter of the victim. The girl confronted the burglar and asked him why he was there. He claimed that he was there to visit someone on the second floor

She then locked her door and went upstairs to check with her upstairs neighbors, who said they had no idea who the man was. While she was doing that, the burglar fled.

The offender was described as a black man, 5'7 to 5'8 and 140-160 pounds, 19-20 years old, brown eyes and a medium complexion.

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A 24-year-old Clearing woman told police she was the victim of an aggravated assault outside her home near 61st and Parkside.

The woman said that at about 5:40 p.m. Tuesday, June 26, she was standing in front of her home when two women in a silver car shouted at her, "That's right, white b~tch. You better get in your house."

The woman told police she then got into an argument with the pair, and they then jumped out of the car---one brandishing a wrench and the other a baseball bat. They allegedly swung the weapons, but did not make contact.

The victim ran inside her house, and the pair drove away. The victim shared their license plate number with police.

The offenders were described as white Hispanic women. One was about 23 years old, 5'5 and 130 pounds with long black hair. The other was described as about 20 years old, 5'5 and 200 pounds, with long black hair and wearing a pink top.

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A 17-year-old Scottsdale boy was robbed at gunpoint at 8:40 p.m. Tuesday, June 26 near 87th and Tripp.

The boy was walking on the sidewalk, a few blocks away from his home near 85th and Kildare. The thug walked up, pointed a blue steel pistol at him and demanded money. The boy surrendered his cell phone, house key and wallet---which contained $40 cash. The offender then fled on foot, south towards 87th Street.

The victim described the robber as a black man, 18-22 years old, 6'0 and 170 pounds, brown eyes, short black hair, dark complexion, wearing a black t-shirt with gray graphics and a black baseball cap with a red brim.

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A 61-year-old Garfield Ridge woman told police that a burglar entered her unlocked garage near 54th and Luna, and then entered her unlocked 2005 Toyota Camry and stole her purse---which she said contained three credit cards, a driver's license, $325 cash and 30 gift cards worth a total of $1,000. She said she discovered the crime at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, June 26.

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A 44-year-old Archer Heights man suffered a minor injury when he was stabbed in the neck while standing in the alley behind his home near 48th and Ridgeway.

The victim was taking out his garbage at 1:19 p.m. Wednesday, June 27 when a man walked up and asked him directions to an unfamiliar address. As they were talking, the victim said the two drew near and suddenly he felt a sharp pain in the right side of his neck.

The victim then fled the scene to escape his assailant, running north through the alley. A short time later, he was treated for his injuries and transported by Chicago Fire Department ambulance to Holy Cross Hospital.

The victim described the offender as a black man, 30 years old, with a "bald" hair style.

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A 43-year-old West Lawn man told police that burglars entered his garage near 72nd and Hamlin and ransacked the interior of his Volvo---stealing a set of golf clubs, a Big Bertha driver, and $1,504 cash from a safe in the trunk of the car.

The victim said he discovered the crime at 11:00 a.m.Wednesday, June 27 as he was about to leave for work. There was no sign of forced entry.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 812 (see map above), come to the Clearing Branch Library at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 11. If you live in Beat 814, come to the Vittum Park Fieldhouse at 7:00 Thursday, July 12. 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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1 comment:

  1. I live near 58 and Natoma, Yesterday afternoon 5 teenage boys were out in front of my home. One of them rang my bell and asked for bandage for a small scrap on his thigh. I told him I didn't have any. The proceeded going down the street ring doorbells. I called the Police but they had left the block by the time the police got here. Please becareful when you answer your door.

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