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.

* * *

A swift response by police resulted in the arrest Tuesday of two suburban men in connection with the burglary of a home near 61st and Nagle.

Raid Awad

Raid Awad, 37, of 100th and Sawyer in Evergreen Park and Hosam Jadrawi, 39, of 89th Place and Natoma in Oak Lawn, were arrested by police as they were seen leaving the rear of the house and walking off the back deck into the yard. Police said they saw Awad carrying a black lug wrench in his left hand and wearing a white tube sock on his right hand.

The two were apparently startled by the speed of the police response, allegedly saying words to the effect of "You got us, you got us good."

Hosam Jadrawi

The homeowner was away on vacation, but a 65-year-old relative at the scene called police at about 6:00 p.m. when she saw two men unsuccessfully attempting to gain entry to the front of the house. She said they then walked around to the back; and shortly thereafter she saw lights coming on inside the house. A 63-year-old neighbor offered a similar account to police. Both the relative and the neighbor positively identified the suspects when they were in police custody.

Police said that both the home's back door and master bedroom had been broken into; that upstairs bedrooms had been ransacked, and that various valuables were stacked inside the home (as if they had been readied for quick transport outside).

Police also said they found assorted jewelry belonging to the victim on the suspects.

The CPD incident report did not offer details on when the two are due in court.

* * *

Two Central Stickney men were arrested in connection with a robbery that occurred at the Burger King at 5201 South Cicero at 10:18 p.m. Tuesday, December 11.

Daniel Machiata

Daniel Machiata, 21, of 49th and Lorel, and Andrzej Stasik, 27, of 49th and Lotus were arrested.

According to a 22-year-old cashier at Burger King, Machiata walked in and paced back and forth while talking on a cell phone. He then allegedly grabbed a charity donation box near the cash register, prompting the cashier to yell "Oh my god!" Machiata then allegedly threatened the cashier by putting his hand inside a pocket (implying he had a weapon).

She responded by fleeing to the back of the restaurant. Machiata then allegedly ripped the charity box from its cable and ran out the door.

Police responding to the incident said they saw a man matching the offender's description nearby with another man. They were holding an empty gas can and asking passersby for gas money.

They were apprehended and brought back to the restaurant, where Machiata was positively identified by the cashier.

5201 South Cicero

Police said that Machiata admitted to stealing the charity box and that Stasik was parked next to the Burger King in a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant that served as their getaway car.

Police said they later saw the car, out of gas, in a parking lot near Archer and Massasoit; and that they saw the cash from the box in plain view on the center console of his car. Police quizzed Machiata on where the charity box itself was. It was later recovered in a garbage can near 54th and Long.

* * *

Police responding to a "woman down" call at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, December 9 found a 27-year-old West Side woman---shoeless and with her pants pulled down around her ankles---near the Walgreens at 4701 South Pulaski.

The woman told police she had gotten into a red car with a man she did not know; and that when she tried to leave the car, the man choked her unconscious and bound her hands with a scarf.

She said she regained consciousness on the street, minus her black boots, cell phone, house keys and $700 cash.

The victim was transported to Holy Cross Hospital and examined for signs of sexual assault. There were none, according to police.

She described the attacker as a white Hispanic man age 21-25, 5'9 to 5'10.

* * *

A 55-year-old Vittum Park woman was robbed as she was entering a home she was scheduled to clean near 66th Place and Spaulding at 10:23 a.m. Tuesday, December 11.

She told police that as she was putting a key in the door, she was pushed from behind. The offender snatched her purse and ran away east towards Kedzie. Her purse contained $30 cash, cell phone, driver's license and keys.

The robber was described as a black man age 30, 5'8 and 160 pounds, dark complexion, wearing a light blue hoodie.

* * *

A 66-year-old woman told police that someone entered her garage near 64th and Linder and stole a leaf blower and her garage door remote control. She said she discovered the crime at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 11. There was no sign of forced entry.

* * *

A thug with a pistol robbed the Check Into Cash store at 8547 South Cicero at 11:43 a.m. Monday, December 10.

8547 South Cicero

Pretending to be a prospective customer, the robber asked about getting a loan and then pushed a 29-year-old clerk, flashed a hand gun and took $120 from a cash drawer. He also stole her wallet, which contained $20 cash, debit card and IDs.

Frustrated that he could not open the safe, the criminal them hit the clerk on the side of her head with the gun before fleeing out the back door.

The clerk was transported to Christ Hospital, where she was treated and released.

The crook was described as a black man age 20-27, 5'7 and 160 pounds, brown eyes, dark complexion.

* * *

A 32-year-old Archer Heights man was robbed by a pair of thugs as he walked down a sidewalk near 49th and Kedvale at 11:05 p.m. Saturday, December 8.

One waved a knife and said "Give me everything" while the other took his belongings. They ran away south on foot.

Stolen were a laptop computer, a cell phone, a wallet with $40 cash inside and various school supplies.

The robbers were described as white Hispanic men ages 19-22, both about 5'9 and 165-175 pounds, brown eyes, bald hairstyles, medium complexion, wearing black hoodies and dark blue jeans.

* * *

A 25-year-old Scottsdale man told police that an unknown assailant fired at his car's windshield  as it was parked near 81st and Tripp at 7:40 p.m. Saturday, December 8.

He said he was just returning home after dropping off his girlfriend at work, when a man got out of a green car and fired a single shot at him and hitting the windshield before fleeing east.

The shooter was described as a white Hispanic man age 20-25, 5'5 and 150 pounds, light complexion.

* * *

Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 814 (see map), come to Vittum Park at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 13. 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.

 

# # #