Sunday, August 11, 2013

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 27-year-old Humboldt Park man was arrested for home invasion after he allegedly broke into two apartments in the same building near 47th and Keeler.
Jose Mendoza


Jose Mendoza of 955 North Homan is scheduled to appear in Cook County Circuit Court Branch 48, 155 West 51st Street, on Tuesday, August 13.

At about 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, August 6, Mendoza allegedly cut a screen in a first-floor window, entered the apartment and stole two cell phones from that apartment. After that, he reportedly broke into the building's second-story unit. The tenant, a 47-year-old man, told police that he woke up, spotted Mendoza, chased and fought with him before subduing him until police arrived.


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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), come to Clearing Branch Library at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 14. 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 41-year-old Scottsdale woman thwarted two robbers when she won a tug of war over the gold chains she was wearing.

The woman told police she was walking in Durkin Park near 85th and Keeler at about 5:05 p.m. Wednesday, August 7 when two thugs pulled up in a black, four-door sedan. They got out and surrounded her, blocking her path.

One of the two lunged at her, yanking on her chains. She held fast, and in the struggle was hit in the face and neck by the criminals. Failing to snatch away the chains, the two got back in the car and sped away.

One is described as a white Hispanic boy or man age 17-20, 5'10 and 160 pounds with short black hair. The other is described as a black boy or man age 17-18, 5'9 and 150 short black hair.

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If you live in Beat 811 (see map), please be sure and attend the next meeting of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch, set for 7:30 p.m. Monday, August 19 at Wentworth Park. The
GRNW is one of the Chicago area's most effective citizen-led crime fighting organizations. If you live and/or own a business in Garfield Ridge (west of Central Avenue), this group a "must" to join!  More details at www.garfieldridgenw.com.

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A 26-year-old Archer Heights woman thwarted a burglar when she won a tug of war over a window air conditioner at her apartment near 47th and Karlov.

The woman told police she was at home at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 6 when she heard a noise near a window. She went to investigate and saw a man trying to push a window air conditioner inside the house, apparently so he could then crawl inside.

She pushed the unit back into place, and the would-be burglar continued pushing in until he gave up and fled on foot. He is described as a black man age 18-25, 5'5 to 5'8 and 160 pounds, brown eyes, short black hair and dark complexion.


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5849 South Pulaski
Burglars entered the back door of a coin laundry at 5849 South Pulaski but apparently left without stealing anything.

According to a manager at the business, the criminals entered the laundry's office and tried unsuccessfully to remove coin changers that were bolted on a wall. They did damage the wall in the process.


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A 24-year-old Sleepy Hollow man told police he was robbed on the street near 48th and Cicero by thugs who took his wallet and $75 cash.

The victim said that at about 2:15 a.m. Saturday, August 10, he was walking south on Cicero when he was propositioned by a prostitute. He declined and started walking east on 48th Street. At the alley just east of Cicero, a car emerged rapidly. The victim had he tried to get out of the way, but grabbed the side of the vehicle and was dragged a few feet.

While on the ground, three men and a woman (the same woman he had just spoken with) emerged from the car (a silver, four-door vehicle) and went through his pockets before getting back in the car and speeding away.

The victim gave only partial descriptions of his attackers. The woman was described as a 24-year-old white Hispanic, black hair and light complexion. One of the others was described as a white Hispanic man age 25, 5'6 and 135 pounds, short black hair and light complexion.


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Three men in a garage near 62nd and Komensky were robbed by baseball bat-wielding thugs at 9:35 p.m. Friday, August 9. The victims (41, 49 and 56 years old) told police that the trio pulled up in a green Oldsmobile. They got out, robbed one of the men of his cell phone, hit all of them with bats--causing minor injuries--and got back in their vehicle and sped away east. The offender are described only as white Hispanic men.


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An 86-year-old man returned from vacation on Friday, August 9 to find that his garage (near 49th and Kedvale) had been burglarized. The service door had been kicked in. Stolen were a lawnmower, a snow blower and assorted tools.


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Burglars broke the locks on the door of a corridor leading to a garage near 57th and Kolin and stole two bicycles. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 35-year-old man, at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, August 8.


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Burglars entered an unlocked back window of a home near 77th Place and Kostner and stole two TVs, an iPod and a cell phone. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 41-year-old man, when he came home from work at 5:00 p.m. Friday, August 9.


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Burglars entered a garage near 81st and Kilbourn and stole a bicycle. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 20-year-old man, at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 7 when he saw the overhead door half open.


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Burglars pried open the back door of a home near 59th and Tripp and stole two TVs, a gold ring, a necklace and $200 cash. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 37-year-old man, when he came home from work at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 6.


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Burglars entered an apartment near 54th and Lorel and stole a TV, assorted articles of clothing, a laptop computer, seven purses and about $2,000 cash, according to the victim, a 45-year-old man. The crime was discovered at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 6. Police said they saw no sign of forced entry.


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A 54-year-old West Elsdon man who had left his home near 53rd and Avers for just two hours, came back at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 6 to find that burglars had forced open the side door of his garage and stolen a lawn mower, a bicycle, two tool boxes and a 10-gallon tank of compressed air.


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1 comment:

  1. What's up with the Teamsters putting up a table and cement bricks to hold up their signs in front of Ridge Funeral Home on the public walk. How can they get away with this. Is this not against the law. A concerned citizen

    ReplyDelete