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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Burglars ripped an electricity meter box off an outside wall of the Jiffy Lube at 6901 South Pulaski, used it to smash a glass-panel window of a rear-bay door, crawled inside and stole $584.95 cash from a safe.

6901 South Pulaski

The crime was discovered by an employee, a 40-year-old West Lawn man, at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, January 12.

The employee told police that the safe appeared to have been opened without force---apparently by using the combination. Police were also told that a recently-fired employee was aware of the safe's combination.

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8251 South Pulaski

Burglars smashed the front glass door of Car Toys, 8251 South Pulaski, crawled inside, smashed the glass of three front display cases and stole an unknown number of vehicle alarms and equipment.

The crime was discovered by a 31-year-old employee at 9:20 a.m. Thursday, January 10. Police said the store's burglar alarm was not triggered.

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A burglar entered an apartment near 59th and Springfield and stole a digital camera, a woman's ring and $12 cash.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 22-year-old man, at 10:00 p.m. Thursday, January 10, when he saw the offender leaving an adjacent apartment.

The victim told police that he confronted the burglar by asking "What the h~ll are you doing?" The burglar reportedly replied "I'm looking for Jose!" before running away east on 59th Street.

The crook was described as a white Hispanic man age 21-25, 5'7 to 5'10 and 150-170 pounds, hazel eyes, light complexion, wearing a gray skull cap, a black Carhartt jacket and light blue jeans.

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Burglars forced open the overhead door of a garage near 48th and Kilpatrick and stole a leaf blower, a weed trimmer and a TV.

The crime was discovered by a neighbor at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 9 when he saw the criminals loading their take into a red Ford Ranger. He told police that he ran into the alley to use his cell phone to capture an image of the burglars while his wife phoned 911.

Upon seeing him, they sped away east on 48th Street. They were described as white Hispanic men age 21-27, 5'5 to 5'11 and 150-180 pounds, light complexions, wearing black hoodies.

The neighbors also discovered that the burglars forced open the service door of their own garage. They initially did not know if anything had been stolen.

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A 28-year-old Archer Heights man told police that gangbangers damaged his vehicle, a 2006 Ford Fusion, while in traffic near 43rd and Pulaski at about noon Saturday, January 12.

He claimed that he was driving south on Pulaski when gang members in a Pontiac Aztec rammed his car on the driver's side; and gangbangers in a Nissan Maxima then rammed him on the passenger side. He said he feared for his safety and drove away swiftly.

When he reported the crime over five hours later, he claimed he did not get a good look at the gangbangers. When asked by police if he himself is a gang member, he refused to answer.

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Burglars broke the front window of an apartment near 54th and Lorel and stole two TVs and three laptop computers.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 42-year-old man, when he returned home at 10:20 p.m. Saturday, January 12.

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Burglars entered a garage near 52nd and Kilbourn, entered a vehicle inside and stole a car stereo.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 26-year-old man, at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, January 10. There was no sign of forced entry, according to police.

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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), come to Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 15. 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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