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.

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A 24-year-old Clearing woman told police that sometime while she was away on vacation from April 3-11, someone stole $5,000 from a small safe she had hidden in the crawlspace of her home near 62nd and Merrimac. There was no sign of forced entry to her residence, and she provided police with the names of two people---a 25-year-old house sitter and a 24-year-old former roommate---who she said have keys to her home.

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Burglars kicked in a service door and stole two mountain bikes from a garage near 55th and Kilbourn, some time between 9:45 and11:30 a.m. Monday, April 9. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 38-year-old man.

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Burglars used a stolen garage door opener to gain access to a garage near 57th and Springfield, some time between 10:00 p.m. Saturday, April 7 and 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 9. Taken from the car inside the car were a pair of prescription sunglasses and miscellaneous other items. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 36-year-old woman.

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A 79-year-old Garfield Ridge woman who left her home at 4:45 p.m. Monday, April 9 to go to a hair appointment and get a bite to eat, arrived home two hours later to find her back door pried open and various items stolen. Police investigating the incident near 53rd and Monitor questioned a known gang member living across the street, as well as a visitor to that house who has a prior arrest for possession of burglary tools.

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Burglars forced open a service door and stole miscellaneous hand tools from a garage near 51st and Kenneth. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 37-year-old woman, at 5:00 a.m. Saturday, April 7.

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A 67-year-old man who left his overhead garage door open in the late morning of Saturday, April 7 was hit by thieves who stole a circular saw, a power washer and a set of sterling silverware. The garage is located near 76th and Springfield.

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A 59-year-old West Lawn woman discovered, at 3:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 10, that her garage near 61st and Kostner had been burglarized. Stolen were several tool boxes, a lawn mower and a quilt.

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Burglars forced open the side door of a garage near 80th and Komensky overnight April 9/10 and stole a bicycle, two drills, various wrenches, a pair of sunglasses, a pair of eyeglasses and car keys. The crime was discovered at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 10 by the victim, a 28-year-old man.

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All Southwest Side residents are invited to a Chicago Police burglary prevention seminar set for 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 21 in the first-floor auditorium of Daley College, 7500 South Pulaski.

The seminar will feature ex-offenders sharing their secrets on how a burglar thinks: including how they choose which home or garage to burglarize, common mistakes that homeowners make, and more----and they will offer a number of practical steps people can take to minimize their risk of being a burglary victim. 
The ex-offenders are participants in the Safer Foundation’s “Keepin’ It Real” program, started by Chicago Police Officer Maudessie Jointer about five years ago to connect former criminals with the community in constructive ways.

Admission and parking are free.

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