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 49-year-old West Lawn man was robbed at gunpoint in his garage near 72nd and Harding.

At 9:15 a.m. Saturday, October 6, the man was in his car, preparing to back out of the garage---when a thug appeared at his window, pointing a pistol and saying "Open the door, motherf~cker. Don't move. Get on the floor."

As the victim complied, the robber went through his pockets---taking a wallet, keys, a garage door opener and $300 cash.

As the victim lay on the garage floor, the criminal drove away in the victim's car. The man then ran inside his house to call police.

The offender was described as a black man, 20-22 years old, 6'0 and 140-150 pounds, medium complexion, wearing a black hoodie and black pants.

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Burglars forced open the service door of a garage near 53rd and Tripp; yet the crime may have been interrupted because nothing was stolen.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 35-year-old woman, at 8:00 a.m. Saturday, October 6.

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A 50-year-old man was arrested after a disturbance at the Crossroads Motel, 5300 South Pulaski.

Lenier Washington, who resides at the motel, allegedly threatened a 68-year-old Crossroads employee by repeatedly stabbing a knife into a counter and then ripping a phone off a wall at about 2:45 a.m. Saturday, October 6.

Washington was taken into custody by police and transported to the CPD Eighth District station. When they arrived, they found Washington unconscious in the back of the police wagon. Washington awoke and allegedly became belligerent. He was transported via CFD ambulance to Holy Cross Hospital for observation.

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A 72-year-old West Lawn man was robbed while delivering two large pizzas to a house at 6752 South Campbell.

The victim is a driver for Onesti Pizza, 2755 West 71st Street. The crime occurred at 2:45 p.m. Friday, October 5. When the victim arrived at the house, he saw three men sitting on the porch. They approached him and robbed him at gunpoint, stealing the pizzas, two bottles of pop and $29 cash. After robbing him, the criminals fled on foot,west on 68th Street.

They are described as three black men ranging in age from 17-24.

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A 38-year-old Vittum Park woman told police on October 5 that her garage near 50th and Lacrosse was burglarized on Thursday, September 27. The CPD incident report offered no explanation for the delay in reporting.

The woman said that burglars entered via the service door and stole a lawn mower, a leaf blower, an edger, a snow blower, a ladder, a generator and three jackets.

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Burglars entered a home near 81st and Kolmar and stole a Nintendo Wii, an Xbox, a Playstation 3 and games, and two laptop computers.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 24-year-old man, at 5:25 p.m. Friday, October 5.

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Burglars forced open the door of a garage near 57th and Keeler and stole an estimated $8,000 worth of power tools.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 64-year-old man, at 5:30 a.m. Friday, October 5. His 41-year-old daughter told police that the garage had been burglarized once before.

Three days earlier, burglars entered a garage across the street and stole a snow blower, a leaf blower and assorted power tools. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 38-year-old man, at 10:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 2. There was no sign of forced entry, police said.

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A 36-year-old West Elsdon man who woke up and investigated a noise in his kitchen scared off a burglar.

The crime occurred at 9:35 a.m. Thursday, October 4 at a home near 54th and Harding. The crook ran out the back door when he saw the victim. Nothing was reported stolen.

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Burglars entered the side window of a house near 71st and Central Park and stole two laptop computers, an iPad, two cell phones, two cameras, assorted jewelry and $2,600 cash.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 40-year-old woman, at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, October 4.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beats 812 (see map above), come to the Clearing Branch Library, 6423 West 63rd Place at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 10. If you live in Beat 814, come to Vittum Park, 5010 West 50th Street, at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 11. 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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