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.

* * *

Two criminals made off with bags full of merchandise after robbing the Radio Shack at 6643 South Pulaski at 4:22 p.m. Tuesday, March 12.

The same Radio Shack was robbed of about $9,000 worth of merchandise on the evening of Tuesday, February 26, as reported by the Southwest Chicago Post.

6643 South Pulaski

According to the two women working there at the time, a pair of thugs walked in, pointed a blue steel hand gun at one of their backs and ordered them to empty the cash drawer into a Radio Shack bag.

The women complied. The crooks then ordered the manager to open a merchandise cage in the back room and fill bags with merchandise.

After she did, she was ordered into the bathroom with her co-worker. The robbers then fled out the back door. The employees called 911 a short time later.

Stolen were $150 cash, 12 iPods, an Xbox, a PlayStation 3, four sets of headphones, a Kindle, assorted cell phones and an unknown number of 32G memory cards.

The robbers were described as black men age 25-32, 5'1 to 5'3 and 130-160 pounds, brown eyes, medium complexion.

* * *

Want to discuss local crime directly with CPD Eighth District Commander David R. McNaughton? Come to the next meeting of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch, set for 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 18 at Valley Forge Park, 7001 West 59th Street. Also on hand will be Chicago Department of Buildings Deputy Commissioner Marlene Hopkins, who will answer questions about residential foreclosures and other issues.

* * *

A 28-year-old Scottsdale woman was robbed at knifepoint behind an apartment building near 79th and Keeler.

The crime occurred at about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 12. The attacker walked up to her, flashed a knife and demanded her purse.

The victim refused, and the thug began slashing at her with the knife---cutting her purse strap and her hand.

He then grabbed the purse and ran away west, dropping the purse in an alley and making off with the victim's wallet, which contained about $140 cash.

The criminal is described as a black boy age 16-17, 5'11 and 160 pounds, with a "Millya" tattoo on his neck, wearing a black hoodie and tan pants. The victim said she has seen the offender before, lurking in the immediate area at around 10:00 p.m., and expressed confidence that she could identify him if she sees him again.

The victim refused medical treatment.

* * *

Mark your calendar: A gang awareness seminar will be held at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 at Hale School, 6140 South Melvina (auditorium). Sponsored by the Clearing Night Force neighborhood watch group, the CPD Eighth District CAPS Office and the CPD Gang/Tactical Unit. Learn from the experts on how to recognize gangs and gang activity and how to deal with it. Learn prevention tips by learning about how gangs recruit young people. Open to the public. Students who attend may earn service hours. For details, email ClearingNightForce812@gmail.com or call (773) 492-0812.

* * *

Three Southwest Side men were arrested and charged with burglarizing a home near 83rd and Springfield.

Nicholas Smith

Nicholas Smith, 17, of 84th and Springfield; Dominic Brown, 21, of 77th and Honore; and Tony Gardner, 20, of 84th and Kenneth are scheduled to appear in Cook County Circuit Court Branch 48, 151 West 51st Street, on Tuesday, March 19, according to police.


CPD said they were alerted to the burglary at 10:10 a.m. Tuesday, March 12 by an MCAT team (a suburban, multi-jurisdiction law enforcement task force) that said they had the trio in custody after witnessing the crime in progress.

Dominic Brown

The three were turned over to Eighth District Police for processing. According to a CPD sergeant, the MCAT team was in Chicago's Ashburn neighborhood because the trio was suspected in several burglaries in west suburban Brookfield and Lyons.


According to police, two of the three broke into the home via a patio door. A number of items stolen from the home were recovered by police---both stacked on the patio and in the men's SUV, a blue 1997 Ford Expedition (which was impounded). Items stolen included a TV and an Xbox with 15 games.

Tony Gardner

The home's owner, a 43-year-old man, was not at home at the time of the crime. When he arrived back home, he identified the stolen items as his. They were returned to him.

* * *

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, March 14. 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.

* * *

Burglars forced open the front door of an apartment near 51st and Cicero and stole 63 tablets of three different types of prescription medications, including methadone.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 38-year-old man, at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, March 10.

* * *

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, March 19. 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.

# # #