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 37-year-old Oak Lawn woman told police she was robbed of her Apple iPhone 4s as she rode on the CTA Orange Line at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, June 30.

Apple iPhone 4s

She said he was seated on the train when a man walked up, grabbed her right arm, snatched her phone and ran off the train at the Kedzie station, fleeing in an unknown direction.

She described the robber as a black man, 25-35 years old, 175 pounds, medium complexion.

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A 53-year-old Brighton Park man was robbed at gunpoint as he mowed the lawn of a home near 72nd and Hamlin at 12:55 p.m. Tuesday, July 3.

The robber walk up, pointed a two-tone handgun at the head of the victim, and said "Don't move. What do you have in your pockets? Give me your money."

The thug then went through the victim's pockets, taking his wallet---which contained his driver's license, several credit cards, a CTA bus pass and $75 cash.

Moments later, when the victim began to move away from the assailant, the robber hollered "Don't move!" and hit him in the side of the head with pistol, causing it to discharge into the air. The thug then fled on foot. The victim's injury was minor, and he declined emergency medical care.

The criminal was described as a black man, 22-27 years old, 6'0 and 170 pounds, brown eyes, dark complexion, black dreadlocks, wearing a white t-shirt.

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Burglars broke in the rear door of a home near 54th and Keeler and stole two laptop computers, three bottles of tequila, and assorted jewelry.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 60-year-old woman, when she came home from work at 2:25 p.m. Monday, July 2.

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Burglars entered a garage near 53rd and Keating and stole two bicycles, a lawn mower and a gas grill.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 44-year-old man, at 11:00 p.m. Monday, July 2 when he went to check on his garage and noticed both the service door and the overhead door open.

While he was waiting for police to arrive, he said he saw a black SUV driving slowly down his street. He watched it head into the alley; and he told police he saw two men get out and load a gas grill into the vehicle.

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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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