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.

* * *

Marcus Hill


A 30-year-old Auburn Gresham man who told police he needed "a few bucks" to buy his son a birthday present was arrested in connection with the burglary and attempted theft of $1,350 worth of copper wire from a ComEd facility at 76th and Lawndale.

Marcus Hill, along with 19-year-old Roseland resident Kristofer Smith, were apprehended by police shortly after 3:00 a.m. Monday, May 14.



Kristofer Smith

 According to police, a ComEd security guard spotted Hill using a bolt cutter to slice through a chain link fence on the  facility's eastern boundary. He and Smith then allegedly walked into the parking lot and took a total of nine spools of insulated, stranded copper wire off ComEd trucks and carried them just outside the fence.

When police arrived on the scene, Hill and Smith fled and attempted to escape via the western section of the parking lot, but were caught and cuffed.

* * *

Burglars used a chunk of concrete to smash a front door window at a local dentist's office, and then stole a 55-inch LCD TV and two aluminum drinking fountains.

The crime occurred at 4:45 a.m. Sunday, May 13 at Smile Dental Care, 7011 West Archer.

The burglar alarm was triggered, but the criminals exited out the back door and escaped before police arrived. Police report that they are attempting to get images of the offenders from the office's security camera, as well as a City of Chicago surveillance camera mounted on a pole near Archer and Sayre.

* * *

A 22-year-old West Lawn man was hit with an aluminum baseball bat and robbed of his Sony Walkman audio player, just after 1:00 a.m. Friday, May 11.

He told police he was jogging north near 64th and Tripp---about two blocks from his home---when a tan-colored, four-door Dodge sedan pulled up. Three thugs got out, hit him with a baseball bat on his hand and the right side of his head, took his Walkman, ran back into the car and drove away. The victim added that the fleeing car rolled over his foot as the offenders made their escape. Police noted swelling on the victim's head and hand, but he refused treatment and gave police no description of the offenders.

* * *

A burglar tried but failed to pry open the service door of a garage near 60th and Mason, damaging the door and frame. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 50-year-old woman, at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, May 13.

* * *

 A 45-year-old Scottsdale man left his home at about noon Sunday, May 13 to visit relatives; and five hours later received a call from his 18-year-old son, telling him that valuables were missing from their house near 77th Place and Kostner..

Stolen were a flat screen TV, a laptop comptuer, an Xbox gaming system, and a vehicle title.

There were no signs of forced entry, and the victim told police he thought the home's rear door may have been left unlocked by accident.

* * *

Burglars pried open the service door of a garage near 58th Place and Komensky and stole a tool box, assorted tools, plastic chairs and two auto lifts. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 57-year-old man, at 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 11.

* * *

Burglars pried open the service door of a garage near 60th and Mobile and stole an air compressor, a tile cutter, a vacuum, a steamer, a leaf blower and a paint sprayer. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 55-year-old man, at 7:00 a.m. Saturday, May 12.

* * *

Burglars forced open the service door of a garage near 62nd and Menard and stole a stereo radio/CD player from a 2000 Chevrolet Blazer parked inside. The victim, a 62-year-old man, discovered the crime at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 12 and told police that he had left the driver's side window of the SUV half open.

* * *

Burglars kicked open the service door of a garage near 47th and Kenneth and stole an air compressor, two grinders, a laser saw, a pressure washer and assorted tools. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 30-year-old man, at 9:00 a.m. Friday, May 11.

* * *

Burglars pried open the side door of a home near 75th Place and Springfield and stole assorted jewelry from a bedroom. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 62-year-old woman, when she came home at 9:45 p.m. Friday, May 11. Not sure if the criminals were still inside her home, she called 911 and waited for police to secure the premises.

* * *

Burglars removed several slats from the window of a garage near 61st and Rutherford, crawled through, broke into locked storage cabinets and stole over 100 chrome tools, a lawn mower and a snowblower. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 61-year-old man, at about 6:00 p.m. Thursday, May 10.

* * *

In a crime apparently committed by gang members intent on insulting a rival gang, several vandals entered a vacant home near 77th and Knox (via an unlocked window) and spray painted gang symbols with upside-down crowns and pitchforks throughout the house, which is owned by Wells Fargo Bank and is being rehabbed by a contractor.

The crime was discovered by the rehabber, a 43-year-old Chicago Lawn man, at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 9. Police investigating the incident were told by a neighbor that he had seen the vandals the previous night and had scared them away by confronting them and hollering at them.

The vandals left behind an empty can of spray paint and several empty bottles of Hennessy cognac. They also stole a five-gallon bucket of paint, according to the rehabber.

# # #

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.

* * *

Swift and smart policing has led to the arrest of two local reputed gang members and the recovery of well over $1,000 in cash and valuables stolen on Tuesday, May 8 from the Clearing Men's Club, 5752 West 63rd Place.

Timothy Peckler

Charged with burglary is Clearing resident Timothy Peckler, 26, who is scheduled to appear in Cook County Circuit Court Branch 48-4, 155 West 51st Street, at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 15.

Also charged (burglary and misdemeanor theft of lost/mislaid property) is a 17-year-old Clearing resident who was scheduled to appear in Cook County Circuit Court Branch 48-4 on Wednesday, May 9.

Responding to a citizen call to 911 about two suspicious men in an alley, dragging a garbage can filled with appliances, police report that they saw Peckler and a 19-year-old Clearing man---also a reputed gang member---with the garbage can.

Peckler fled when he saw police. He was apprehended after a brief foot chase and brought back to the scene. According to police, Peckler's companion stated that his 17-year-old brother (also a reputed gang member) and Peckler were in possession of stolen merchandise. He led police to his home near 64th and Major, where his 41-year-old mother allowed police to enter and conduct a search of the premises.

The search uncovered a cache of items that might typically be found in a tavern---including 14 bottles of alcoholic beverages, a 37-inch radio/TV/VCR, a Bose Wave music system, and more than 10 dozen individual packages of snack items.

Aware that the Clearing Men's Club, 5752 West 63rd Place, is a short walk from the home, police decided to investigate and found the club's back door pried open and the premises ransacked. They contacted a club officer, a 52-year-old man, who confirmed that the merchandise in the home near 64th and Major had been stolen from the men's club. Additionally, the club representative reported that a total of $1,082 cash had been stolen from three different locations in the club. That cash was recovered from the home.

Also found at the house was a mixer that had been stolen in a local garage burglary several weeks ago. Police contacted the victim, who identified it as his and took possession of it.

* * *

A 24-year-old Clearing man has been arrested and charged in connection with a string of armed robberies committed against cab drivers.


Mark Mascorro


Mark Mascorro is charged with three counts of armed robbery and is scheduled to appear in Cook County Circuit Court Branch 48-4, 155 West 51st Street, on Wednesday, May 16.

In the most recent of the three crimes, Mascorro reportedly called for a cab on the North Side and asked to be driven to an address in Clearing. When the taxi neared the destination, Mascorro then changed the destination to an address near his home near 63rd and Newland, police said. When the vehicle stopped, he allegedly pulled a handgun and robbed the driver of $155.


The dots got connected when police responded to a call of a cab driver who just been robbed of $155 at gunpoint at 2:21 a.m. Wednesday, May 9 near 63rd Place and Newland.


Aware of a string of recent taxicab robberies at that location, police showed the victim a taxi surveillance photo of a man who had recently robbed a cab driver there. The victim said the man in the photo was the same thug who had robbed him.


Police then went to Mascorro's house (near 63rd and Newland) to inform him that he was a person of interest in a recent string of armed robberies. They were met at the door by Mascorro's brother, who let police in and led them to the basement, where Mascorro was. He was escorted outside, where was positively identified by the victim.


At that point, police said that Mascorro admitted guilt and showed police where he had stashed the $155 (under a bathroom sink) and where in the furnace room he had stashed his semiautomatic, blue-steel handgun, which was loaded.




* * *


Burglars broke in a rear window of a home near 61st and Kildare and stole a 27-inch flat-screen TV, a laptop computer, a Sony PlayStation 3, and various jewelry (chains, bracelets, rings and earrings). The crime was discovered at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 8 by the victim, a 31-year-old woman, who returned home, saw an open door and mistakenly assumed that her daughter had returned from school. Upon seeing the home ransacked, she fled the premises and called 911, waiting for police to arrive.


* * *


Burglars broke in a rear window of a home near 60th Place and Springfield and stole an LCD TV, an assortment of jewelry and $1,500 cash. The crime was discovered at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 8 by the victim, a 56-year-old woman returning home from work. Police responding to the call found a chair placed under the rear window and broken glass on the ground.


* * *


A 14-year-old Clearing boy was taken into custody by police in the early afternoon Monday, May 7 after he allegedly cut a classmate with a razor blade during class at Grimes Elementary School, 5450 West 64th Place. The victim, a 13-year-old Clearing boy, suffered cuts on his upper right arm and two fingers of his left hand and was picked up from school by his mother.


* * *


Three men were arrested in connection with a fight with police officers outside a home near 48th and Springfield. Responding at 2:40 a.m. Tuesday, May 8 to a call of several men drinking on the sidewalk and disturbing the peace by talking loudly, officers encountered two men drinking cans of Modelo beer, as well as an open case of Modelo nearby. Upon seeing police, one of the men allegedly became defiant and shouted, "F~ck you. We ain't doing sh~t. We are in front of my house. You can't do sh~t."


When the men refused to respond to the officers' request for identification, the officers began to place them under arrest. During the pat-down, police report, one of the men suddenly resisted, kicking and punching one of the officers in an attempt to escape. The other man attempted to flee into the house, but was tackled on the porch by the other officer.


After brief struggles, both men were subdued and handcuffed. In the struggle, one of the two officers suffered a dislocated shoulder and was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center.

Mersed Villa

Arrested and charged with aggravated battery was 26-year-old Mersed Villa, a West Lawn resident. Arrested and charged with a misdemeanor offense was 24-year-old Michael Ayala of Archer Heights. Police also cited Ayala's father, 67-year-old Marcelino Ayala, for attempting to interfere with the younger Ayala's arrest.


* * *


Burglars broke into a garage near 57th and Parkside and stole assorted hand tools and an air compressor. The crime was discovered at 7:00 a.m. Monday, May 7 by a neighbor, who alerted the victim, a 64-year-old woman.


* * *


Forty-three-year-old James Miller from suburban Bridgeview was arrested and charged with burglarizing a garage near 66th and Kedvale at around 8:00 a.m. Monday, May 7. Police report that they saw Miller exiting the open garage and driving away in a black Chevrolet Malibu. They pulled the car over in front of 6255 South Pulaski--in the shadow of West Lawn's famous, giant statue of a cigar-store Indian--to investigate and saw a hydraulic floor jack on the seat of Miller's car.


Miller admitted being at the garage, but claimed he was there with permission and to put antifreeze in his car's radiator. Additionally, he claimed that he saw the jack next to a garbage can and assumed it was discarded. Police also found a pry bar in Miller's car.


James Miller


Miller was transported back to the garage, where officers discovered that the overhead door had been pried open, with some of its wheels off the tracks.


The 40-year-old owner of the garage denied that Miller had permission to use the garage; and a 29-year-old resident of the address claimed the jack as his.


* * *


A 52-year-old taxi driver from suburban Palos Hills was robbed at 6:00 a.m. Monday, May 7 near 61st and Kedvale. He had picked up his passenger a short time earlier at 63rd and Archer Road in Summit. The passenger asked to be driven to a home near 60th Street and 76th Avenue. He went into that building for a couple of minutes and then returned to the cab, asking to be taken to 61st and Kedvale.


Upon arrival, the passenger got out and began arguing over the fare. He struck the cab driver across the face and hand with a broken bottle. He then reached in and grabbed $300 cash and fled. The cab driver ran after him down an alley. The two scuffled, the robber dropped the cash and fled through a gangway at 6122 South Kedvale, leaving a trail of blood.


Police arrived to investigate, and a Chicago Fire Department ambulance provided first aid to the victim. Police then transported the cab driver to the residence in Summit, where they were met by Summit Police. A man answering the door said that a co-worker who comes and goes at the address may be the person police were seeking. He provided the co-worker's name and the name of the wheel and tire shop in Summit where they work. Police visited the shop, only to be told the man they were seeking did not show up for work as scheduled.


* * *


Two men from the Little Village neighborhood were arrested in connection with an armed robbery that occurred at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 6 at 49th and Pulaski.

Gregorio Reyna




Victor Molinar


The victim, a 29-year-old cook from the Little Village neighborhood, was waiting for a northbound bus at 4901 S. Pulaski when four men in a black, two-door, 1990 Pontiac Firebird pulled up. One of the men was brandishing a hand gun partially concealed with a green shirt draped over it. The man holding the gun ordered the victim (in Spanish) "Give me your phone and all your money, or I'll shoot you."


The victim surrendered his cell phone and $7 cash, and the car drove away north on Pulaski.


Chicago Police sent out a "flash" message to alert units in nearby districts, and police in the 10th District spotted a car matching the description near 26th and St. Louis, and the car was pulled over near 25th and Homan. The victim positively identified the men in the car.




Police found $7 cash in the right front pocket of one of the men. A BB gun was found wedged between the driver's seat and center console, and a green shirt was recovered.


Arrested and charged were Gregorio Reyna, 30, Victor Molinar, 34. Both are reputed gang members, and police noted a "Trust No B~tch, Love No Ho" tattoo on Reyna's lower left arm.


Police questioned the other two men in the car, who said that shortly after the robbery, Molinar had removed the battery from the victim's cell phone, to disable the tracking device.


They also stated that Reyna sold the cell phone for $100 and a Chicago White Sox cap to a salesman at El Barrio Shop, 3414 West 26th Street, and then gave $20 to Molinar.


Police further noted that $20 had fallen out of Molinar's pants when he got out of the car.


Police then visited the store and recovered the victim's cell phone.


* * *


Burglars broke a rear window of St. Peter Lutheran Church, 8550 South Kedvale, stole a public address system and destroyed a camera system. The crime was discovered at 8:00 a.m. Sunday, May 6 by a 73-year-old church trustee.


* * *


Burglars broke into a home near 64th and Lorel and stole a 38-inch TV, a 42-inch TV, a VCR and an Xbox 360 game system. The crime was discovered at 1:40 p.m. Sunday, May 6 by the victim, a 48-year-old woman who had been away for the weekend.


* * *

A burglar broke into a home near 57th Place and Hamlin on Sunday, May 6 and stole a 36-inch flat screen TV. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 22-year-old woman, when she awoke from a nap at 3:30 p.m. and saw the burglar standing over her and holding the TV. He fled out a side door, which he had broken into. The victim described the burglar as a white man, 5'7 and 160 pounds, with short black hair and a light complexion.

* * *

A 32-year-old man who took his family for a day of shopping on Sunday, May 6 returned to his home near 53rd and Tripp at 6:00 p.m. to find a basement window open and a bedroom ransacked. Stolen were seven gold bracelets, 2 gold rings, six gold necklaces, and a set of spare keys to the house.

* * *

Burglars forced open the rear door of a house near 61st and Kenneth and stole two TVs, a laptop computer, Xbox and PlayStation gaming systems, a man's watch and miscellaneous jewelry. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 33-year-old man, when he arrived home at 9:00 p.m. Sunday, May 6.

# # #

Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch Patrols Prevent Crime, Fight Blight

The Southwest Chicago Post was invited to ride along with the leaders of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch on Monday, May 7.

We were with them briefly, on the first few stops of their night patrol, as they checked out local schools and parks, took direct action to eradicate graffiti at a busy intersection, and fought blight by attempting to make contact with and offer assistance to an elderly homeowner in need of help with a dilapidated fence, garage and home exterior.



Al Cacciottolo interviewed.

 Highlights of our ride-along are posted on the Southwest Chicago Post's YouTube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8MnLxU13s0&feature=youtu.be

Want to get involved with the GRNW? Check out their website at www.garfieldridgenw.com and attend their next meeting.

# # #

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.

* * *

Burglars entered a second-floor apartment near 49th and Kildare at around mid-day Friday, May 4 and stole a 32-inch flat screen TV and a Nintendo Wii game console. The 28-year-old victim was at work when the crime was committed, but a 23-year-old neighbor on the first floor heard footsteps above her and telephoned the victim to alert her. The neighbor then saw two men leaving the building with the TV and console in their hands. When the victim returned home, she saw no signs of forcible entry, but did mention that she had recently lost her apartment keys. The witness described the two men as male white Hispanics---one 16 years old, 5'5 and 120 pounds, and the other as 19 years old, 5'8 and 115 pounds. The witness said she knew who the burglars are and provided police with a last name for both---as well as the nicknames Lalo and Wacko. Police reported that both women were highly agitated over the situation and claimed that Lalo and Wacko have been "terrorizing the neighborhood."

* * *

The parking lot of one of the Chicago-area's most popular and famous pizzerias was the scene of an armed robbery at about 6:50 p.m. Wednesday, May 2. Two employees of Vito & Nick's Pizzeria, 8433 South Pulaski, were robbed as they sat in a car in the parking lot. The men---a 19-year-old and 21-year-old, both of suburban Burbank---were approached by two men, one of whom drew a black handgun and said, "You know what this is. Give me all your sh~t." The two employees then handed over an iPhone and a total of $232 cash. The offenders fled on foot, east through an alley. The victims described the offenders as black men, 16-20 years old, 5'8 and 120 pounds.

* * *

A 54-year-old woman from Highland, Indiana was robbed as she was about to attend a family party near 49th and Kolin at 6:15 p.m. Saturday, May 5. The woman was getting out of her car when a man approached and asked for assistance in finding a particular address. The offender then lunged at her and yanked a gold chain and pendant off her neck, fleeing on foot east on 49th Street. The victim described the strong-arm robber as a white Hispanic man, 19-21 years old, 5'10 and 155 pounds, short hair and an olive complexion.

* * *

A 51-year-old Clearing woman was robbed about five blocks from her home as she was getting out of her car near 64th and Central at 8:40 p.m. Saturday, May 5. She was approached by a man with a red bandana covering his face. "Give me that purse now," he told the victim, who resisted. The two struggled, and the offender pulled the purse away before fleeing south down an alley. The woman told police that her purse contained credit/debit cards and a pair of pink eyeglasses. She described the offender as a white Hispanic man, 19-21 years old, 5'6 to 5'8, and 140-150 pounds.

* * *

A 30-year-old cab driver was robbed at gunpoint by his passenger at 3:50 a.m. Friday, May 4, as his taxi was parked near 63rd and Newland. The American United Taxi driver had picked up his passenger at 1923 West Schiller. Instructions were to transport the passenger to 63rd and Sayre. Just east of the destination, the passenger asked to be let out. When the cab stopped, the passenger drew a handgun and said, "Give me the money." The cabbie handed over $11 cash, and the offender fled north on foot. The cab driver described the robber as a white man, 25-30 years old, 5'9 and 170 pounds.

* * *

A 43-year-old cab driver was robbed at gunpoint by his passenger at 3:45 a.m. Sunday, May 6, as his taxi minivan was parked near 63rd and Newland. The Flash Cab driver, responding to a dispatch order, had picked up his passenger at 1401 North Wicker Park Avenue. Instructions were to transport the passenger to 5600 South Harlem; but en route, the passenger requested being driven to 63rd and Newland. Once there, the passenger drew a blue steel handgun and said, "Give me the money." The cabbie handed over $70 cash, and the offender fled north on foot. The cab driver described the robber as a white Hispanic man, 24-26 years old, wearing blue jeans and a blue hooded sweatshirt. The taxi dispatcher provided police with the phone number the offender used to make the initial call for service; and the Flash Cab minivan was equipped with security cameras. Footage was shared with police.

* * *

A 43-year-old West Elsdon man who left his home on Saturday, May 5 to go to a nearby store, returned a short time later (at about 11:00 a.m.) to find his 20-year-old daughter hollering at a man burglarizing their garage near 56th Place and Hamlin. The burglar escaped into a white Chevrolet van and drove south. Stolen were a circular saw, a tool box, miscellaneous tools and an Mp3 radio.

* * *

An unlocked front door was apparently all a criminal needed to burglarize a home near 64th Place and Major in the late afternoon of Friday, May 4. The victim, a 34-year-old woman, left home to get her car washed. After that, at about 4:00 p.m., her two teenage children left the house. When the woman returned at 6:00 p.m., she found the front door closed but unlocked. Stolen were a laptop computer, a Sony PlayStation game console, and a purse containing $100 cash and personal identification.

* * *

A burglar broke a lock on a service door and stole miscellaneous tools from a garage near 57th and Springfield. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 29-year-old man, at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, May 5.

* * *

Two 17-year-old Gage Park boys, both admitted gang members, were pursued and apprehended by police shortly after 10:00 p.m. Friday, May 4, in connection with the armed robbery of a 17-year-old boy from the Little Village neighborhood. The victim was walking north on the sidewalk at 4955 South Pulaski (near the New Pindos Restaurant) when he was approached by two teenage boys, one of whom asked the victim what gang he was a member of. When the victim replied that he is not a gang member, one of the offenders reached for his waistband (implying he had a weapon) and said, "Gimme all your sh~t." The second offender then began searching the victim's pockets and took the victim's bookbag. A passing motorist, seeing the victim standing with his hands up, drove up and confronted the two assailants, who then fled on foot----south through the athletic fields next to Curie High School. The motorist took the victim into his car for protection and then called 911. Police responding to the call found and arrested two teens meeting the description provided by the victim and witness. They were transported back to where the victim and witness were, and were positively identified. The victim's bookbag, dropped by one of the two during the chase, contained his work shirt and school papers.

* * *

An 18-year-old Clearing man told police that his Chicago Bulls cap was stolen by four or five thugs who beat him when he was walking in an alley near 63rd and Merrimac at about 9:00 p.m. Friday, May 4. One of the offenders reportedly hit the victim in the face with a baseball bat; and then punched and kicked him before fleeing north through Hale Park. The victim was treated and released from MacNeal Hospital and would only describe his assailants as white Hispanic men.

* * *

An 18-year-old West Lawn woman walking up the steps of her home near 61st and Karlov at 5:45 p.m. Friday, May 4 was accosted from behind by two men, one of whom yanked a gold chain off her neck. The pair then fled east through a gangway and into a black, two-door Chevrolet Monte Carlo, driven by a third man. The car sped away north.The victim described the robbers as white Hispanic men,  19-21 years old with black hair and medium complexions.

* * *

A 17-year-old Archer Heights boy was treated and released from Holy Cross Hospital on Friday night, May 4, after he was beaten with a brick by 3-4 young men who reportedly identified themselves as gang members. The victim was walking with his girlfriend at about 10:15 p.m. near 47th and Springfield---about a block from his home---when the offenders hollered gang slogans and then beat him. He did not provide police with a description of the offenders.

* * *

A 17-year-old West Lawn boy lost a front tooth when a gang member hit him in the face with a short metal pipe in front of his home near 60th Place and Central Park, at 3:00 p.m. Friday, May 4. The incident started when two young men drove up and parked their vehicle nearby (a black Kia with chrome rims). They got out and started shouting gang slogans at two girls on the home's front porch: a 13-year-old sister of the victim and her 15-year-old girlfriend from the Clearing neighborhood. Denying gang affiliations, the 15-year-old shouted back, "We ain't with nothing." Hearing the commotion, the victim walked from the garage to the front lawn. When he asked the pair to leave, one offender struck him with the pipe; the other attempted to slash his chest with a long screwdriver. One offender then held a handgun aloft while shouting gang slogans, and then the two fled in their vehicle, north on Central Park. The offenders are described as white Hispanic men. One is 19-20 years old, 5'9 and 200-220 pounds. The other is 25-26 years old, 5'5 to 5'6 and 160-170 pounds, with rotted teeth and a facial deformation.

* * *

Burglars kicked in a panel of the side door of a garage near 48th and Kedvale and stole a lawn mower, DJ equipment, an amplifier, two speakers and two cases of Modelo beer. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 38-year-old woman, at 7:20 a.m. Friday, May 4.

* * *

A 17-year-old Woodlawn girl was robbed of several rings and bracelets, as well as $7 cash, at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, May 3 just outside Curie High School. Her grandfather had just driven her to school from their South Side home, when she was accosted by two teenage boys who threw her to the ground and stole her belongings. She described the offenders as white Hispanic boys, 16-17 years old and about 5'7.

* * *

Burglars broke into a side door of a home near 55th and Keeler and stole a 55-inch TV, a digital camera, a PlayStation game console, a jewelry box, a large amount of gold jewelry and $500 cash. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 28-year-old man, at about 4:00 p.m. Thursday,  May 3 when he came home from work to find his home ransacked.

* * *

A 33-year-old West Lawn man was walking near his home near 66th and Kildare at about 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 2 when he was approached by a man who greeted him and asked him if he belongs to a gang. When the man replied no, the man who asked the question lunged at him and yanked a gold chain off his neck. The victim chased the robber but did not catch him. The victim described the offender as a white Hispanic man, 20-21 years old, 5'6 and 250 pounds, with a distinctive "row of squares" tattoo on both forearms. He also told police that the brief exchange between them was conducted in Spanish.

* * *

A 31-year-old West Lawn man said he was on his porch near 59th and Tripp at about 6:00 p.m. Monday, April 30 when he was rushed from behind by three men, who pushed him down, beat him and stole a gold chain from around his neck and then fled in a black 1997 Jeep Cherokee. The man said he saw the license plate number and shared it with police. He described the offenders only as black Hispanic men.

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A would-be burglar failed to finish the job when he was apparently scared off at a home near 59th and Narragansett, earlier this week. The 31-year-old homeowner was away on vacation, and the attempted burglary was discovered by a 29-year-old relative of the victim, who checked on the house after work. She saw that the front storm door was broken, along with evidence of unsuccessful tampering at the front wooden door. The home is protected with an alarm system; but no alarm rang, apparently because the burglar did not gain entry.

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All Southwest Siders who were not able to attend the Chicago Police Department's recent burglary prevention seminar at Daley College are welcome to view Southwest Chicago Post footage of the event. It's long (40 minutes) and visually plain, but filled with basic, solid advice that can help everyone protect property and even lives.

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Archer Heights CAPS Meeting Roundup

A recent Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) meeting in Archer Heights yielded common concerns and calls for renewed citizen vigilance and cooperation with police in thwarting crime.

The May CAPS meeting for the Eighth Police District’s Beats 815 and 821(see clickable beat map below) was held at St. Bruno School and was attended by about two dozen local men and women.

Highlights included:

** Alluding to a concern raised at the April meeting, CAPS facilitator Michael Kovac stated that he was not aware of any new gang activity in Archer Park. He noted that a second video surveillance camera has been installed at a strategic location in the park and urged everyone to keep their eyes and ears open for suspicious activity.

** Local volunteers from the Eighth District's court advocacy program expressed frustration and disappointment over difficulty in bringing graffiti taggers to justice. Citing an instance where a young man had been arrested for tagging four businesses along 55th Street, they noted that two of the four business owners failed to appear in court. One said he would appear and testify, but then was a no-show at court; and the other business owner, when urged to attend the tagger's trial, allegedly told court advocates that he feared that testifying would lead to retaliatory tagging on his building---a position that Kovac said he viewed as "...ridiculous. I mean, come on. We're talking about some tagger with a can of spray paint, not some hardened mobster. God bless the two business owners who did show up. They were a couple of mom-and-pop businesses who did the right thing. The two no-shows were larger businesses that frankly should have known better," he said, declining to name the no-shows. "Look, we can have all the court advocates we want going over to 51st and Wentworth to demand justice for our community; but when the victims don't show up, the crimes won't be prosecuted successfully."

** Court advocates also complained about judges at the Cook County Circuit Court First Municipal District courthouse at 155 West 51st Street, for alleged leniency in cases related to prostitution, and for a general lack of awareness of the seriousness of graffiti. "One judge told us that before he was assigned to 51st and Wentworth, he did not know that graffiti was a problem," Kovac added. "Well, I don't know where that judge lives, but it must not be in the city."

**  There was an update on efforts to address an alleged "nuisance" house near 49th and Knox. According to neighbors, the house contains multiple dogs and cats; and the house and backyard are loaded with garbage and feces that can be smelled from adjacent homes. Further, the owner of the house allegedly rents rooms in the house to boarders---at least one of whom is a suspected drug dealer, according to one person at the CAPS meeting. It was also noted that several neighbors on the block are watching the house and its occupants closely, including with binoculars, according to Archer Heights Civic Association Executive Director Thomas Baliga---who added that city officials are aware of the house and are using inspectors to pressure the home's owner to clean up the premises and bring the property into compliance with the law.

** A CAPS facilitator noted that Rendezvous Bar and Grill, 3500 West 47th Street, is now closed---and without elaborating, thanked Chicago Police. Rendezvous had been the subject of complaints by neighbors for multiple crime-related concerns, including possible gang activity and prostitution. An August 2011 online review by a Rendezvous patron, posted on an "ultimate strip club list" website, stated "After passing this place so many times I finally decided to check it out with a couple of buddies. On arrival security patted us down n charged us 5 bux at the door. The place was a bit crowded. There was 5 of us n only 3 of us got seats (had to take turns sitting down). We got a couple of modelos which were 5 bux each...While we were inside a gang member kept asking us what gang we were with. He was very annoying But seemed to be friends with security,thats the only reason I didnt punch him in the mouth because he was getting on my nerves. I wouldnt recommend going alone or if you don't know the area. The dances are $10 But the girls do some heavy grinding."

** There was a recap of recent action by city inspectors to stop a scheduled "rave" dance party from occurring at Club Karlov. (Details about the incident can be found in a Southwest Chicago Post news article posted on Friday, April 27.)

** A neighbor who voiced a concern at the April CAPS meeting about loud, late-night parties on his block, thanked police for their action. He stated that the parties, which appear to be in violation of city ordinances relating to noise nuisances, have gone away. Officers commenting on the situation reminded everyone of the importance of signing complaints in such instances. "We can come out and warn them about it," the officer said. "And they'll turn down the volume of the music. But then we drive away, and the volume goes right back up. If we have a neighbor willing to sign a complaint, that gives us the tool we need to take effective action."

The next CAPS meeting for Beats 815 and 821 is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 6 at St. Bruno, 4839 South Harding. All local residents are encouraged to attend. For more details, phone the Eighth District CAPS Office at 312-747-8724.

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Archer Heights Civic Association Wants Tougher Laws Against Graffiti, Vandalism

The Archer Heights Civic Association has announced that it is working to revise city laws to increase penalties associated with graffiti and other acts of vandalism.



City worker removes graffiti from a wall.

 "Our civic association, through our sponsorship of both the Archer Heights Community Watch and a Daytime Graffiti Patrol, has for years been in the forefront of trying to combat incidents of graffiti, tagging, spray painting and glass etching in our community," wrote AHCA Executive Director Thomas Baliga in the group's May newsletter. "These acts of defacement bring down property values, are expensive crimes against homeowners and businesses, and those convicted should receive more than just a slap on the hand from the court system."

The AHCA is seeking revisions to four chapters of the Municipal Code of Chicago to increase the fines and jail time regarding violations of such acts. Specifically:

8-4-070 Responsibility of Parent or Legal Guardian: Current fines of $250 - $750 against parents/guardians of minors convicted of violation of the code to be increased to $500 - $1,000.

8-4-10 Damage to Public Property: For persons convicted of violation, existing fines of “not less than $200 nor more than $500” to increase to “not less than $500 nor more than $1,000”.

8-4-130 Possession of Etching Materials, Paint or Marker with Intent to Deface Unlawful: Violation for each offense to increase from the current $750 to $1,000.

8-4-060 Vandalism Defined: Fine for conviction to increase from the current $750 to “not less than $2,500”. In addition to such fine, any such offense shall be punishable as a misdemeanor with mandatory incarceration of not less than three days and up to 30 days, or 2,500 hours of community service. The current code states that such offense “may” be punishable as a misdemeanor for a term of “up to 30 days” and or be required to perform up to 1,500 hours of community service. Beefing up this code and getting convictions will send a clear message to persons bent on defacing and damaging private property.

According AHCA officials, the proposed changes are ready for consideration by the City Council, and they expect that 23rd Ward Alderman Michael R. Zalewski will introduce the measure soon.

"Our civic association fully supports the 8th Police District Court Advocacy Program and hopes these increases in fines, along with mandatory jail time, will help clean up the community by making such acts costly to the perpetrators and their guardians, and assist the Court Advocates in their tireless efforts," Baliga also wrote. "Stiffer fines and mandatory jail time will encourage the victims of such crime to sign complaints and go to court. And showing up in court is key. For if a victim does not go to court, the case will be dropped. Hardworking homeowners and businesspersons should not have to pay increased property taxes and costly repairs, while graffiti/etching criminals skate free. Increased fines and jail time are a win-win situation for the entire City, as mandatory fines will provide a revenue resource for the hiring of more police."

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Readers Who Count

By Joan Hadac
Editor and Publisher

and Tim Hadac
Managing Editor

Southwest Chicago Post
 
The positive response to the Southwest Chicago Post continues to be a pleasant surprise that has exceeded all expectations.

We began this new online news service---locally owned and operated---with absolutely no fanfare, no advertising; and we started adding news content in mid-March.

We started quietly---"soft-launching" this news service so we could work the kinks out before we got up to speed. Kind of like how, years ago, people who bought new cars would go easy on them for the first few hundred miles or so.

Our plan was---and still is---to proceed deliberately. Step by step. Just simple, straightforward, neighborhood news reporting with no shortcuts to success.

In that regard and in terms of our business model, we are not the hare. We are the tortoise.

And proud of it.

So with that in mind---if you had asked us back in mid-March, how many "hits" (page visits) do you think the Southwest Chicago Post website would receive in its first month, we would have said perhaps 500.

But we were off.

In its first four weeks, the Southwest Chicago Post received just over 5,000 hits.

And just two weeks after that, we reached and passed the 10,000-hit mark. (At about 8:15 tonight.)

But trust us---we're not about to high-five each other or run out to Weber's to buy a cake or to Miska's to buy a bottle of champagne.

Instead, we thank our friends and neighbors on the Southwest Side---that's you!---for giving your vote of confidence to a Southwest Side-owned and operated online news service.

These way-better-than-anticipated numbers tell us we're on the right track. Your response tells us to keep doing what we're doing and trusting our instincts---not just as journalists, but more important as lifelong Southwest Siders who basically want and work for the same thing we all do: clean, safe neighborhoods in which to live, work, play, study, worship, shop, and more.

Neighborhoods where we can raise our families and grow old in peace and comfort.

Neighborhoods where---especially for our children and grandchildren---"the good old days" are now, because we made it that way by working together.

And we hasten to add this about our website's hit count: while it's definitely exciting to get 5,000 and then 10,000 hits when you thought you'd get 500----we prefer to measure quality over quantity.

That is to say this: we primarily serve the five city neighborhoods that border Midway Airport. An area of about 150,000 people. But know we'll never have 150,000 readers, or 100,000 or even 50,000.

And that's entirely OK with us, because we believe in the old newspaper saying: "Far more important than counting your readers, is having readers who count."

Rest assured, we don't need to reach every single person directly---and we don't plan to.

We don't want the Southwest Chicago Post to be an unread, rolled-up newspaper on every porch (or soggy and in the bushes). Not us. Not ever.

We want to be a 24/7 online news service for Southwest Siders who are smart, savvy, and skeptical---but not cynical.

Southwest Siders plugged into the Internet and who use social media tools to connect and communicate.

Southwest Siders who are registered to vote---and vote.

Southwest Siders who---whether they know it or not---are leaders.

Leaders, not because they're some local big shot or windbag. Southwest Siders who are leaders, simply because they are ordinary men and women with common sense---and who care enough to take the time to inform themselves on issues and have solid opinions. And then, deliberately or not, influence other people (and therefore help shape the direction of our neighborhoods) as they share their opinions with neighbors on the block, at their church or local school, in their civic association or neighborhood watch group or CAPS meeting.

In other words, you.

Readers who count.

Thanks again.

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