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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Released on Thursday afternoon by the Chicago office of the FBI.

A robber hit the Fifth Third Bank near 87th and Kedzie.

A little east of the SWCP coverage area, but worth a look for all Southwest Siders.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 813 or 833 (see map), come to West Lawn Park at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 26. 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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Several Garfield Ridge neighbors worked together to chase, out-muscle and hold two gangbangers who allegedly were caught trespassing in a vehicle near 58th and Monitor.

Jorge Manzo, 18, of 48th and Le Claire and Matthew Juarez, 25, of Springfield, Illinois, were arrested by police and are scheduled to answer to misdemeanor charges in Cook County Circuit Court Branch 34 on April 30, 2013, according to police.

The incident began just minutes after 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 19 when a 24-year-old Garfield Ridge man in his home heard his car alarm sounding. He told police that he looked out a window and saw Manzo and Juarez standing at his vehicle.

He said he quickly pulled on a coat and walked outside to confront the pair. When he got outside, he said he saw the two sitting inside a different vehicle parked nearby. (The vehicle is owned by a 21-year-old neighbor.)

The man told police that when he hollered "Hey!" at Manzo and Juarez, they asked "What the f~ck you want?"

The man said when he walked toward the pair, they got out of the car and fled on foot, east on 58th Street.

Several neighbors who heard the commotion came out of their homes and gave chase, detaining Manzo and Juarez for police. The two allegedly threatened the neighbors during the chase and apprehension, saying "Get the f~ck away from me! You don't know who you're messing with!" They also reportedly shouted a gang slogan.

Police noted that when they arrived to arrest the pair, Manzo and Juarez had minor abrasions on their skin.

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An armed thug robbed La Montana grocery store, 4201 West 59th Street, at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, making off with $300 cash.

According a 28-year-old clerk on duty at the time, the robber walked in and posed as a shopper. He waited for other customers to leave and then pulled a black gun as he said "I'm sick. Give me all the money. I need to buy medicine."

The clerk complied and the criminal fled the store, got into a maroon Nissan Sentra and sped away east through an alley.

The crook is described as a white man age 50-55, 5'2 to 5'5 and 130-150 pounds, blue eyes, light complexion with a tattoo under his right eye. He was wearing a black hoodie, dark blue jeans, tan skull cap, black gloves and tan boots.

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Burglars pried open the service door of a garage near 47th and Lawler and stole a tool box with hand tools, a wet vacuum and cleaning supplies.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 40-year-old man, at 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 20.

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