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 16-year-old girl from the Ashburn neighborhood was arrested shortly after 5:00 a.m. Sunday, June 10 after she allegedly damaged the door handle of an SUV belonging to a Chicago Police officer.

The off-duty officer was walking his dog near 68th and Komensky when he saw a girl trying the door handles on cars and trucks parked on the block. The girl had a glove on her right hand; and according to the officer, she yanked so hard on the passenger front door handle of his SUV, she damaged it.

When he confronted her and displayed his CPD star, the offender fled on foot. Police units responding saw her drop her glove in the alley behind 6811 South Komensky. They apprehended her at 69th and Komensky and brought her back to 68th Street, where she was positively identified by the off-duty officer.

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Burglars pried open the service door of a garage near Archer and Leamington and stole two bicycles, assorted power tools and two pairs of shoes. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 51-year-old man, at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 12.

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Burglars pushed through a back window of a home near 65th and Lawndale and stole an envelope containing $4,200 cash, according to the 39-year-old woman who owns the home.

The burglary was discovered by an 18-year-old man who lives at the address, who told police that he arrived home at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday,June 12 to discover the back door and rear window open, the cash missing, and several valuables stacked on the back porch, including two laptop computers, a video camera and a stereo.

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Burglars forced open a back window of a home near 76th Place and Hamlin and stole a Nintendo DS video game console, assorted DVDs, a video camera, assorted tools, assorted jewelry, and $600 cash.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 42-year-old woman, when she came home from work at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday,June 12.

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Burglars kicked in the back door of a home near 86th and Kedvale and stole two TVs. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 37-year-old man, when he came home from work at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 12.

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Burglars forced open the back door of a home near 52nd and Harding and stole a DVD player, a Nintendo Wii video game console, a Sony PlayStation 3 video game system, and assorted items of jewelry.

The crime was discovered by the victim,  a 41-year-old woman, when she came home from work at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, June 12 to find her back door open and her dog wandering around the yard.

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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 above), come to Good Shepherd Church, 5556 South Merrimac, at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 19 and attend your monthly CAPS meeting. If you live in Beat 813 or 833, come to West Lawn Park at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 26. 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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