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 quartet of thugs hit the EZ Pawn shop at 4338 S. Pulaski, making off with an estimated

4338 South Pulaski

$50,000 worth of jewelry and $5,000 cash. Two employees (a 33-year-old Cicero man and a 26-year-old Brighton Park woman) told police that the men walked in at 10:29 a.m. Wednesday, May 14. Three of the four brandished handguns, and the woman was initially ordered to lie on the floor, but then ordered to get up and open a safe, which she did. At the same time, one of the robbers jumped up and down on a glass display case, breaking it and scooping up the jewelry inside. The male sales clerk was roughed up slightly. The four then fled out a side door and ran west through a yard at 4349 S. Komensky, the employees told police. The four are described as white Hispanic men age 18-20, 5’4 to 5’8 and 140-160 pounds, all wearing masks or bandannas.

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A 40-year-old Little Village woman taking a walk on her lunch break from work told police she was robbed at gunpoint on a path in Archer Park, near 48^th and Kilbourn. A man approached, displayed a pistol and said, “Stop, lady. Give me your purse.” She complied, and the robber fled on foot. The purse contained a child-support check she had just received. The robber is described as a white Hispanic man age 23-25, 6’0.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 811 (see map), come to Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 20. 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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An 18-year-old West Elsdon man told police he was robbed at knifepoint as he walked down a sidewalk in front of 3954 W. 57^th St. at 12:10 a.m. Sunday, May 18. He said he was walking home from work at the time and was approached by a man who stole his wallet, cell phone and $8 cash before fleeing east on 57^th Street. The robber is described as a white Hispanic man about 5’7 and 120 pounds, brown eyes, short black hair, light complexion.

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A 22-year-old West Lawn woman told police she was robbed at knifepoint as she walked down a sidewalk in front of 6332 S. Hamlin at 1:10 a.m. Sunday, May 18. She said she was walking home from work at the time and was approached by two men who stole her cell phone, wallet and book bag before fleeing on foot north towards 63^rd Street. Police searching the area later recovered her book bag, although a debit card was missing. The robbers are described as white Hispanic men age 18, 5’6 and 120 pounds, black hair, light complexion, wearing gray hoodies.

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A 50-year-old Archer Heights man told police that he was robbed as he walked down a sidewalk in front of 5010 S. Tripp at 2:01 a.m. Sunday, May 18. He said that three men approached on foot and threatened him before taking $15 cash from him. The robbers are described as white Hispanic men age 18-19, 5’6 and 160 pounds.

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A 42-year-old Archer Heights man told police he was robbed at knifepoint as he walked down a sidewalk in front of 5200 S. Kildare at 2:04 a.m. Sunday, May 18. He said that three men approached him on foot and, in Spanish, demanded his money. The victim surrendered his wallet with $103 cash inside, as well as a cell phone. The trio fled east on 52^nd Street when a woman came out of her house and hollered at them. The robbers are described as white Hispanic men age 18-20, 5’8 and 150 pounds, wearing black hoodies.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 813 or 833 (see map), come to West Lawn Park at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 27. 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 20-year-old West Lawn man told police he was robbed in an alley behind 6235 S. Kostner at 4:40 p.m. Friday, May 16. He said a man walked up, snatched his cell phone, pushed him and ran away. The offender is described only as a black man.

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Burglars entered the unlocked back door of a home near 52^nd and Austin and stole a TV. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 48-year-old woman, when she came home from work at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15.

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Burglars entered a garage near 48^th and Kolin and stole two bicycles and three toolboxes with tools. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 47-year-old man, at 7 p.m. Monday, May 12.

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Burglars entered the service door of a garage near 63^rd and Keating and stole a bicycle, an air compressor and two power drills. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 22-year-old man, when he came home from work at 5 a.m. Saturday, May 3—although he did not report the crime until 11 days later. There was no sign of forced entry, police said.

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