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.

* * *

An alert neighbor who called 911 helped police interrupt and foil the burglary of a Scottsdale home near 80th and Kolin.

At 9:39 a.m. Friday, December 28, police responding to a "burglary in progress" call were pointed in the direction of two men by construction workers. Police spotted them at a play lot at 8030 South Kostner, next to Stevenson School.

Ricardo Rodriguez

Arrested were Ricardo Rodriguez, 33, of 82nd and Tripp, and Joseph Rocha, 27, of 81st and Tripp.

The neighbor told police that he saw the pair pull up to the victim's home in a black 2007 Dodge Caliber. Rodriguez allegedly got out and rang the front door bell. When no one answered, he reportedly went back to the car, got a crowbar and (along with Rocha) walked around to the back and pried open the home's back door.

Joseph Rocha

Police said that the back door was damaged, three bedrooms were ransacked, that stacked on the kitchen table were a power saw, a laptop computer and an iPad. They also found a flat-screen TV thrown on a bed.

In Rocha's left front pants pocket, police said they found 11 two-dollar bills. They also found a TV remote control lying on the ground at the play lot. The victim, a 36-year-old man who was at work when the crime occurred, later identified the cash and the remote as his.

Police further reported that they found a crowbar lying in the grass in the victim's backyard.

The Dodge Caliber was impounded.

* * *

Two gangbangers from suburban Cicero were arrested on Thursday, December 27 in connection with the burglary of a garage near 61st and Keating.

Jessie Segura

Police said that Jessie Segura, 38, and Mario Segura, 28---both of 54th Avenue and 23rd Street---were apprehended and charged. (Editor's note: The Cook County Sheriff's website identifies Jessie Segura as Jesus Segura.)

Police responding to a "burglary in progress" call at 4:39 a.m. said they saw Mario leaving the yard next to the garage that was hit, and then attempting to flee in a black 1997 Ford Taurus. Police vehicles blocked his exit at the end of the alley and took him into custody.

Mario Segura

Jessie allegedly bolted from the garage and fled on foot, hopping fences through back yards. Police caught up with him quickly, nabbing him in a yard behind 6124 South Keating.

Police said that the pair had stolen a number of things from the garage, including power tools, hand tools, and a stereo. They said they found a screwdriver in the left pocket of Mario's jacket---possibly used to pry open the service door of the garage.

* * *

Police responding to a "burglary in progress" call at 6:55 a.m. Thursday, December 27 apprehended 17-year-old Alexis "Lucky" Lopez of Chicago Lawn (62nd and Albany) as he emerged from a yard at 3607 West 64th Street.

He was brought back to the scene of the crime, a first-floor apartment near 64th and Lawndale, where he was positively identified by two witnesses.

After his arrest, Lopez reportedly offered to show police where he had stashed the loot: a residence near 62nd Place and St. Louis. The owner, when questioned by police, denied knowing that the items were there.

Lopez allegedly told police that he and an accomplice (identified only as "Droopy") had stolen two TVs from the apartment and then came back later to grab other items---including a DVD player, a DVD drive, a telephone answering system, a camera and $50 cash.

Police also said that a cell phone belonging to Lopez had fallen out of his pocket during the burglary and was left behind at the crime scene.

* * *

Burglars entered a garage near 47th and Lacrosse and stole two power washers, a snow blower, a lawn mower, a TV, a microwave oven and assorted tools.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 53-year-old man, at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, December 27.

There was no sign of forced entry, and the victim told police the service door may have been unlocked.

* * *

Burglars entered the garage of a residence near Archer and Merrimac and stole a lawn mower.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 62-year-old man, at about 5:00 p.m. Monday, December 24; but he did not report it to police until Thursday, December 27.

* * *

Burglars removed the lock from the service door of a garage near 58th Place and Komensky, entered and stole two bicycles, a weed trimmer, a leaf blower, a gas grill and a mini-refrigerator.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 47-year-old man, at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, December 27.

* * *

A thug forced his way into a West Lawn house, slapped a 92-year-old man in the head and made off with $1,000 cash.

The crime occurred at 5:55 p.m. Friday, December 28. The victim told police his door bell rang, and he walked to the front door to answer it---only to find no one there. He then walked to the back door and found a man standing there.

The man pushed his way inside, slapped the victim and then took the cash from a dresser drawer, the victim told police. The robber then ran out the door and north through an alley.

The victim told police that earlier that day, he had withdrawn cash from a nearby bank and then had gone shopping at a grocery store in Scottsdale. Police said they were reviewing surveillance video from both those establishments.

The victim only described the offender as a man, according to police. No further information was available.

* * *

Burglars broke through the front door of Continental Sales, 6333 South Cicero, disabled the store's alarm system, opened a safe and stole $500 cash.

The crime was discovered by an employee opening up for the day at 5:50 a.m. Thursday, December 27. Police said they planned to review surveillance video.

* * *

Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 815 or Beat 821 (see map), come to St. Bruno School (south entrance) at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 2. If you live in Beat 834, come to Bogan High School at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 3. 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.

# # # 

Update: Is This Your Dog?

Update, January 9, 2013---The Hahns report that the lost dog is still being cared for, but no luck yet on reuniting him with his owner. The dog has been taken to a veterinarian for a checkup and given a clean bill of health and has all his shots. The vet said that the pooch appears to be less than a year old. Also, he was taken to a groomer for a little pampering.

If this is your dog, please contact the Hahns at the numbers below.

# # #

Southwest Chicago Post reader Phil Hahn just sent us a message and two photos about a missing pooch.

~ ~ ~

"My wife's cousin found this little guy last night by 51st and Newland. He is not micro-chipped. Can you spread the word and see if anyone knows who he belongs to.

If they are the owner, they must prove it.  We want to make sure he gets back to his home, and not just to someone looking for a free dog.

They can contact me or my wife, Cindy.

Phil 708-932-3325 (working 2 pm - 10 pm)

Cindy 708-932-2237 (home after 4)"

~ ~ ~

Readers Who Count

By Joan Hadac

Editor and Publisher

and Tim Hadac
Managing Editor

Southwest Chicago Post

We both grew up on the Southwest Side. We attended school here. We met, fell in love, got married, bought a house and raised our children here. Our hearts are here, as are yours.

When we launched the Southwest Chicago Post back in March, we did so simply as two unpaid volunteers working to make our neighborhoods a safer and better place---the same type of effort that hundreds of Southwest Side men, women and even children make every day, in many different ways utilizing their many different abilities. Just like you do.

As longtime local news reporters/editors, we figured we'd do what we know best: gather local news and other useful information and share it in a timely manner with people who simply want to be informed, who want to know what's going on in the neighborhood.

We never intended (and still don't) for our online news service to compete with established neighborhood papers. Quite the opposite, in fact. We regularly offer our content to them as a collaborative gesture of good will, and we wish them well.

Our hope for the Southwest Chicago Post was modest, in terms of numbers. As you do, we understand that even a small number of dedicated, civic-minded people, armed with reliable information, can change a block, a neighborhood, a city for the better. So we thought that if we could attract a small number of public-spirited readers---perhaps a few dozen or even 50---we could make a positive impact on our neighborhoods.

We began this new online news service---locally owned and operated---with absolutely no fanfare, no advertising. 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 all that in mind---if you had asked us back in mid-March, how many readers and how many "hits" (page visits) the Southwest Chicago Post website would receive by the end of 2012, we would have said perhaps 50 regular readers and 5,000 hits.

But we were off.

Nine months after launch, the Southwest Chicago Post has over 900 regular readers and over 100,000 hits. Rapid growth beyond our dreams, that's for sure.

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 100,000 hits when you thought you'd get 5,000----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 we know we'll never have 150,000 readers.

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. But 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.

# # #

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.

* * *

An alert neighbor who saw three suspicious men carrying what appeared to be burglary loot called 911, playing a pivotal role in helping police foil a Christmas Day garage burglary in West Elsdon.

Mario Queroz

At about 6:20 a.m. Tuesday, December 25, police responding saw two men and a 16-year-old boy carrying various items as they walked north up a sidewalk in front of 5142 South Keeler. 

When the trio saw police, they reportedly dropped the items and fled on foot. The boy, who lives near 43rd and Komensky, was apprehended as he emerged from a yard at 5129 South Keeler. One of the two men, 19-year-old Mario Queroz of 32nd and Keeler, was found hiding in a back yard at 5134 South Tripp.

The other man escaped, police reported. He is described as a white man about age 18, 5'10 and 160 pounds, blond/strawberry hair in a "fade" style. The two suspects arrested gave police information on him.

The items that were dropped by the trio included a power drill, a GPS unit and a snow blower. Police said that Queroz provided information that led police to a garage near 57th and Keeler. The owner, a 40-year-old man, came to the CPD Eighth District Station and identified the items as his.

Police said there was no sign of forced entry at the garage, and that Queroz denied entering the garage---claiming that he only carried the items once they were outside.

According to authorities, Queroz is scheduled to appear in Cook County Circuit Court Branch 34, 155 West 51st Street, on Friday, January 4.

* * *

6287 South Archer

Burglars used a brick to smash the front glass door of the Doma shipping store, 6287 South Archer, went inside and stole a TV off the wall on Christmas Day.

The crime occurred at about 6:23 p.m. Tuesday, December 25. An alarm was triggered, and police responded. A 28-year-old employee was alerted.

The crime was at least the fifth such smash-and grab burglary in the immediate area in 2012. TV sets were also stolen from two dentists' office, a chiropractor and a barber---all on Archer Avenue in CPD Beat 811.

* * *

A 37-year-old Back of the Yards woman was robbed at gunpoint, with two small children in her car, moments after she withdrew $120 cash from an ATM at Bank of America, 6135 South Pulaski.

6135 South Pulaski

The crime occurred at 6:07 p.m. Wednesday, December 26. The victim told police that the robber said "Gimme your money. I don't wanna hurt your kid."

After she handed over the cash, the thug accused her of holding back some of the cash; but when she showed him an empty wallet, he fled on foot toward the back of the parking lot, scaling a low concrete wall and then running north down the adjacent alley.

The victim described the offender as a black man age 30-37, 5'9 and 200 pounds, brown eyes, dark complexion, wearing a black cap with a white horizontal stripe, dark-colored jean jacket and black jeans.

* * *

A 44-year-old West Lawn woman renting a video on Christmas Eve was robbed at gunpoint outside the CVS store at 6301 South Pulaski.

6301 South Pulaski

At 8:35 p.m. Monday, December 24, the woman was at the Redbox kiosk with her 13-year-old daughter when a thug approached, displayed a brown pistol with a black handle and said "Don't be scared. Give me your card and PIN number."

The woman handed over her debit card and PIN. The criminal then ran away south.

He was described as a black man age 33-38, 5'5 and 180 pounds, dark complexion, "toupee" hairstyle, wearing a black jacket.

* * *

Burglars entered a garage near 63rd Place and Nashville and stole an air compressor, a lawn mower, a grass edger, a weed trimmer, about 20 power tools, a tool chest with tools, and two bicycles.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 78-year-old woman, at 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 26.

* * *

A 43-year-old woman returning to her home near 54th and Tripp at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday, December 26 noticed that her back door had been forced open. She walked inside to investigate and found a teenage burglar still inside a first-floor bedroom. She struggled with the criminal, tackled him in the kitchen and made him sit in a chair while she retrieved two video game controllers from the pockets of his hoodie.

Moments later, the burglar bolted, ran out the basement door, through the yard and down an alley.

The crook was described as a white Hispanic boy age 15-18, 5'10 and 125 pounds, brown eyes, black hair in a ponytail, thin moustache, wearing a black hoodie, black pants and a black cap with a red brim.

* * *

Burglars crawled through an unlocked front window of a home near 69th and Kedvale and stole two TVs, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a notebook computer, two cameras, a MIDI keyboard, a set of headphones and two speakers.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 20-year-old man, at 4:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 25.

His 19-year-old roommate had discovered the crime hours earlier, but mistakenly thought the victim had taken them.

* * *

Burglars opened a basement window of a home near 66th and Springfield and stole two credit cards and two Xbox games.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 47-year-old woman, at 1:40 a.m. Tuesday, December 25 when she returned from a family party and saw lights on in the house and a bedroom in disarray.

* * *

Burglars stacked coolers under the kitchen window of a home near 57th Place and Springfield, forced opened the window, crawled inside and stole three laptop computers, two cameras, and assorted jewelry.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 50-year-old man, when he returned home from a family party at 2:45 a.m. Tuesday, December 25.

* * *

A 40-year-old man working in his garage near 65th Place and Springfield was robbed at gunpoint by two thugs.

The crime occurred at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, December 23. One robber pointed a black pistol at the victim's head and demanded money. The victim handed over his cell phone and $110 cash. The offenders then ran away east through the alley and south on Springfield.

They were described as black men age 18-21, 5'11 to 6'1 and 165-180 pounds, brown eyes and short black hair.

* * *

A 40-year-old West Elsdon woman was robbed at gunpoint near the Jewel/Osco at 5320 South Pulaski at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, December 23.

She handed over $5 cash before the criminal ran away. He was described as a black man age 40-45, 5'6 and 145 pounds, light complexion, wearing a dark blue jacket, black sweatpants and a black skull cap.

* * *

A 20-year-old West Elsdon woman told police that someone pushed her and grabbed her cell phone when she was at the CTA Orange Line station at 5106 South Pulaski at about 9:00 p.m. Sunday, December 23.

The robber fled east across Pulaski and down an alley. He was described as a white Hispanic boy or man age 15-20, 5'3 and 125 pounds, brown eyes, short black hair, dark complexion, wearing a black hoodie, blue jeans and a black skull cap.

* * *

Burglars broke through the back door of a home near 86th and Kostner and stole a shotgun, a TV and a desktop computer.

The crime was discovered by the victim's brother, a 45-year-old Ohio man, at 10:00 p.m. Sunday, December 23, when he saw the back door window shattered and a piece of concrete on the floor.

* * *

Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 815 or Beat 821 (see map), come to St. Bruno School (south entrance) at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 2. If you live in Beat 834, come to Bogan High School at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 3. 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.

# # # 

Letters to the Editor

Editor's note: We respect your opinion and are privileged to share it via this website. All letters to the editor will be reviewed before being posted. We do allow anonymous comments, yet we will not allow the Southwest Chicago Post to serve as a forum for bigotry of any kind. We also will not allow personal attacks against anyone, including elected officials and other public figures. On this site, all of us need to keep our tone respectful and our criticisms constructive. That's important as we work together to build better Southwest Side neighborhoods for all. So please join the conversation by sending your letter to editor@swchicagopost.com.

* * *

Dear Editor,

Thank you for the video Christmas card you shot on Christmas Eve. I saw it the next day and shared it with my mom, who moved to Florida a few years ago after living on the Southwest Side all her life. You should do more videos like that.

Patti Vaccaro

West Lawn

Editor's reply: Thank you. We hope to produce more quick, upbeat videos like that throughout 2013.

* * *

Dear Editor,

You have me and my husband stumped. We saw your Christmas video and can't for the life of us figure out where the first house is, despite the fact that it looks so familiar. I say it's somewhere in Chicago Lawn. My husband thinks it's in the suburbs---maybe Summit or La Grange. Who's right?

Sue Pavelich
Garfield Ridge

Editor's reply: Neither; but you're close, while your husband is off by at least four miles. (All of the homes in the video are right here on the Southwest Side. Nothing suburban.) Anyway, the house in question is in West Lawn: the Werner home at 64th and Lawndale, which for decades has been---and still is---one of the best maintained and decorated homes in the area. The family decorates not just for Christmas, but every major holiday. Looks like an old-fashioned, all-American home, like something you'd see in a Frank Capra film. Nice people, nice house.

* * *

Tim,

With all due respect and as a colleague in journalism, I still disagree with your decision to describe those who commit crimes with loaded terms like thugs, crooks, criminals, gangbangers, etc.

As I wrote to you in October, "Most newspapers stick to descriptions like man or male, woman or female. When you express an opinion in your news stories by using loaded terms like "thugs" I think people will interpret that, correctly or not, as you taking sides or even being racist."

What I think you're not taking into consideration is that different people have different motivations for committing crimes. Yes, some people who commit criminal acts are bad. But maybe others have economic reasons, etc.   Just a thought.

C.K. Williams
Rogers Park


Editor's reply: Thanks for your input, Chester. Allow me to reiterate what I wrote before: "If a man sticks a loaded gun in your face, threatens to pull the trigger and robs you at gunpoint---how is that man not a thug?"

Unlike some other news organizations, the Southwest Chicago Post does not pretend that there is some kind of moral equivalence between criminals and their victims. There isn't. One is committing an unlawful (and frankly, evil) act. The other is, usually, an ordinary person who did nothing to deserve being a crime victim.

We also don't try to split hairs by looking at alleged motivations of criminals. Think about a man who walks into and robs a 7-Eleven. Whether that man is doing so because he's a mean-spirited thug or whether he's a desperate man trying to get cash for his grandma's eye operation is neither here nor there to the clerk behind the counter---all that person knows is "There's a nervous, angry man pointing a loaded gun at my face; and there's a significant chance I will never see my wife/husband, children, family and friends again."

Every SWCP reader who's ever been robbed at gunpoint knows that terror. And Chester, I'll bet if I polled them, they'd be OK with us describing armed robbers as thugs, criminals, crooks, etc. In fact, they may suggest that we use other terms, as I found out from a letter we received in response to yours. (Check it out below.)

* * *

Dear Editor,

This is a letter to disagree with that man who thinks you should not call criminals criminals.

Years ago, I was robbed by a man with a loaded gun. The fear that raced through my mind made it hard to think. The fear that gripped my chest made it hard to breathe. The fright went all the way to and through my bones, making it hard to move and follow orders.

Luckily for me, I was not killed in that robbery. The robber lowered his revolver and shot me in the leg before he fled the scene, because I didn't move as fast as he wanted, he said.

My leg healed, but for months after, I had nightmares about the incident---often ending with him pointing the gun at my chest and firing.

So speaking only for myself, I say go ahead and call a criminal a criminal or a thug a thug. If I wrote the crime stories in the Southwest Chicago Post or anywhere else, I'd call them b~stards, sons of b~tches or worse.

Carol (last name withheld upon request)
Archer Heights

* * *

Editor,

I want to know why all of a sudden these neighborhood newspapers are flooding their pages with pictures of the same politicians, again and again.

Every time I read a paper, I see the latest nonsense from (Illinois Secretary of State) Jesse White or (State Senator Martin) Sandoval.

White even puts out entire articles about his office hours, like "Secretary of State offices will be closed on Thanksgiving."

Gee, ya think?

What next? Jesse White gives directions to the bathrooms?

Lately, Sandoval has put out more pictures of himself than a teenager on Facebook. Sandoval standing next to a suburban fire chief, then next to a senior citizen club president, then with a group of children at a school. What next? Sandoval at your child's birthday party?

I thought the elections are over. Why don't these politicians stop campaigning and get about the business of what they were elected to do?

Finally, why do so many neighborhood newspapers print the drivel from these politicians? Are they in cahoots with them?

William "Bill" Barczak

Clearing

Editor's reply: We can't speak for other neighborhood newspapers, here or anywhere. You'd have to ask them. We can only speak for ourselves. For our part, we have not printed a press release or a photo from a politician. While we know that all local politicians (or at least their staffs) read the Southwest Chicago Post, we're not on their press release mailing lists. That's their prerogative. It's OK by us.

Regarding White and Sandoval, your guess is as good as ours. Usually, politicians run campaign-style PR operations when they're campaigning for something. Does White want to be governor in 2014? Does Sandoval aspire to statewide office or something else? We don't know. You'd have to ask them. Either way, time will tell.

* * *

Editors,

Thank you for stopping by to take a photo of our Student Council officers who led our drive to assist victims of Hurricane Sandy. It was well received by the parents and everyone.

We hope you will mention our open house and other Catholic Schools Week activities in early 2013.

Lawrence Manetti
Principal, St. Joseph School

# # #

Merry Christmas 2012

# # #

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.

* * *

Three armed robbers made off with over $30,000 cash after they hit an Archer Heights business at 7:00 a.m. Thursday, December 20.

The trio of thugs knocked on the door and were buzzed in to the offices of Chicago Industrial Catalytic, 4427 West 45th Street. Once inside, they partially obscured their faces with masks, drew pistols, ordered the employees to the floor and asked "Where's the money at?"

One of the victims recognized one of the criminals, saying "Kevin, I know that's you. Why are you doing this?"

The thug reportedly hollered "How do you know my name? You don't know me!"

The robbers were led to a back area where the safe was. The crooks took about $27,000 cash from the safe, according to the victims. They also stole $4,500 cash from one of the victims, $150 from another, and two cell phones before running out the door and speeding away in a gray/silver car, possibly a Pontiac Grand Am or Grand Prix, police were told.

The crooks were described as black men ages 20-21.

* * *

A Scottsdale man who ignored his dog when it started "acting weird" may have missed an opportunity to foil a burglary.

The man told police that his dog acted that way between 10:30 and 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, December 18; but he did not take him out for a walk until 1:40 p.m. At that point, he noticed that the front door was open at his neighbor's house near 84th and Karlov.

Police investigated and found the back door had been pried open. The victim, a 40-year-old man, was contacted at work.

The victim later confirmed that burglars had stolen a laptop computer, a Nintendo handheld video game unit, assorted jewelry and $20 cash from the home.

* * *

Burglars smashed a glass front window of Dazzling Dentistry, 6941 West Archer, walked inside and stole a wall-mounted TV set.

Just before glaziers replaced the window at 6941 West Archer.

The crime was discovered by a neighbor at 3:22 a.m. Tuesday, December 18 when he noticed a rear security light on and a rear interior door open.


The security camera mounted on the man's house showed that at 12:20 a.m., a vehicle parked nearby and a hooded man got out and walked toward the front of the dentists' office. A second vehicle pulled up and parked near the back.




In what may have been a related crime, burglars used a large rock to smash the glass front door of Coler Chiropractic, 6657 West Archer, crawled inside and stole a TV off the waiting room wall.

The crime was discovered by the victim at 5:00 a.m. Thursday, December 20. The back door of the office also was open, police said.

The two crimes were at least the fourth such "smash and grab" burglaries this year in the immediate area. On Sunday, May 13, a TV was stolen from Smile Dental Care, 7011 West Archer; and on Monday, April 2, a TV was stolen from Stan's Barber Shop, 6656 West Archer.

* * *

A 33-year-old West Lawn man who admitted to police that he drove his van over to 72nd and Claremont to try and buy marijuana would up being robbed at gunpoint and then shot.

At about 1:45 p.m. Thursday, December 20, the man flagged down another man to ask about buying some pot. After a discussion, the would-be seller got into the victim's van, pulled a gun and said "Give me everything you have on you or I'll shoot you."

After the victim turned over his cell phone and $40 cash, the robber said "I know you got more." He pointed the gun at the victim's head, and then lowered the gun and fired, shooting the victim through the right calf.

The offender then ran away on foot. The victim drove himself to Holy Cross Hospital, where he was treated by emergency room staff and interviewed by police, who said that the offender's cell phone was found on the victim.

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A 16-year-old West Elsdon boy told police that he was robbed of his cell phone at gunpoint on a sidewalk near 59th and Kilbourn at 5:55 p.m. Thursday, December 20.

The boy told police that the robber had followed him home from school---first on the CTA Brown Line and then the Orange Line. When the youth got off the Orange Line at its terminal, he said he no longer saw the man; but that he re-appeared near the scene of the crime.

He said the robber ran away east through a back yard.

He described the assailant as a black man age 18-22, 5'6 to 5'8 and 170-180 pounds, wearing a blue vest over a black hoodie, carrying an orange book bag.

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Burglars forced open the front door of a home near 82nd and Kildare and stole two hand guns, a laptop computer, a camera, about $5,000 worth of old silver coins, and personal identification papers.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 48-year-old man, at 4:20 p.m. Thursday, December 20 when he came home from work.

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A 29-year-old West Elsdon man who called 911 because his girlfriend would not give his belongings back was arrested because those belongings included an unregistered hand gun.

Elias Troche of 57th and Lawndale called police at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday, December 20 to his 17-year-old girlfriend's apartment near 64th and Major.

When police arrived, the girl handed over Troche's book bag, saying "Here is his gun and his sh~t."

Police said that Troche had a valid FOID card and claimed not to know he had to register his weapon.

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Two would-be burglars kicked in the back door of a home near 49th and Knox, but fled without stealing anything when they saw the 40-year-old homeowner in the house. The crime occurred at 8:50 a.m. Thursday, December 20. The victim described them only as two men wearing black hoodies.

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A pair of thugs robbed the Sprint store at 8071 South Cicero, getting away with about $900 cash and 20 cell phones.

The robbers walked into the store at 7:04 p.m. Wednesday, December 19 and ordered three employees (a 28-year-old woman, a 30-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man) to the back of the store.

"Somebody is not going to have a merry Christmas if you don't do what I tell you," one robber said as he brandished a gun and ordered the staffers to open the safe. The two then ran out the back door with the take.

They were described as black men, 18-27 years old, 5'8 to 5'10 and 135-165 pounds, wearing black hoodies.

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Burglars broke through a back window of a home near 69th Place and Lawndale and stole a Nintendo Wii, a Samsung tablet computer, and about $800 cash.

The crime was discovered by the victims, a 31-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man, at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 18 when they came home from work.

Police said they were reviewing video footage provided by a neighbor.

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This CPD video is a few years old, but can be very helpful. check it out: