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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A 64-year-old neighbor who saw something suspicious but did not call police may have missed an opportunity to foil a burglary at a home in the Scottsdale neighborhood.

The crime occurred on the morning of Tuesday, March 19, when a burglar broke through a back window of a house near 77th and Kenton and stole an iPad and a high school ring. The home's owner, a 33-year-old woman, was at work at the time and discovered the crime later when she came home.

Interviewed later by police, the neighbor said he had seen a grey Honda parked at the curb, with two young men inside. He said that the man on the passenger side got out of the car and walked up the victim's driveway. By the time neighbor walked outside to investigate, the young man was gone--and possibly inside the victim's house, the neighbor told police.

The neighbor only described the two individuals as white Hispanic men in their late teens. Both were bald.

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A criminal made off with about 30 Swisher Sweets cigarillos after robbing the BP gas station at 6702 South Pulaski.

BP station at 6702 South Pulaski

The crime occurred at 5:22 a.m. Saturday, March 23. The offender walked in and, while implying that he had a weapon by putting his hand in his pocket, demanded Newport cigarettes. When the BP clerk refused, the crook grabbed the Swisher Sweets and bolted out the door.

He jumped into a white SUV (a Chevy Tahoe or Suburban) and sped away south on Pulaski. The clerk described him to police as a man 20-22 years old, 5'7 and 150 pounds, black hair, olive complexion, wearing a white hoodie and blue jeans.

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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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Burglars broke through a back basement window of a home near 49th and La Crosse and stole a PlayStation 3, two iPods, two credit cards, a backpack and $6,000 cash.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 48-year-old woman, when she returned home at 11:25 p.m. Saturday, March 23 and found her home ransacked.

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Burglars kicked in the side door of a home near 60th and Hamlin and stole a TV, a PlayStation 3 and six games, a laptop computer and an iPad.

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The crime was discovered by the victim, a 28-year-old man, at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 22.

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Burglars opened a back window of a house near 83rd Place and Kilpatrick and stole a Gucci watch valued at $1,500.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 19-year-old man, when he returned home at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 22.

Someone or something apparently interrupted the crime, because the victim saw several valuables stacked on a bed, as if they had been readied to be taken away.

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A 25-year-old West Lawn man foiled a burglary in his home near 65th Place and Springfield.

The man told police that at about 4:40 p.m. Friday, March 22, he was in his basement and heard footsteps on the floor above him. He ran upstairs and found a burglar on the main floor.

The burglar ran out the door. The victim then discovered that a laptop computer and assorted jewelry were missing, and that the back door was damaged.

The victim described the burglar only as a man wearing a dark hoodie.

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Burglars forced open the back door of a home near 78th and Kostner and stole two laptop computers, an iPod, a cell phone and assorted jewelry.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 49-year-old woman, at 4:00 p.m. Friday, March 22.

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Burglars forced open a side basement window of a home near 53rd and Kildare and stole a TV, a laptop computer, an IPad, a PlayStation 3 and two Dolce & Gabbana jackets.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 22-year-old man, when he returned from vacation at 4:10 p.m. Thursday, March 21.

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Protect yourself, your loved ones and your property! Learn how to reduce your risk of being a burglary victim, with tips straight from ex-burglars themselves. Mark your calendar for 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 and come to the west entrance of Kennedy High School, 56th and Narragansett. Sponsored by the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch.

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