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.

* * *

Three people were shot after an argument at El Palenque bar (formerly Zabornianka), 5173 South Archer. Police responding to a "shots fired" call at midnight Monday, August 19 found three people bleeding from gunshot wounds: a 23-year-old Orland Hills man, a 27-year-old Clearing woman, and a 29-year-old Cicero man employed as a security guard at the bar.

5173 South Archer

The woman was shot in both legs, the security guard was shot in the neck, and the other man was hit in the right leg. All three were treated by CFD staff and transported to hospitals. Police said that all three are recovering.

The victims, as well as witnesses, identified the shooter and an accomplice as white Hispanic men age 20-29, driving a black SUV with tinted windows.

The offenders reportedly left the bar after getting into an argument with at least one of the victims. They returned a short time later, firing from their vehicle and the speeding away west on Archer.

* * *

An armed thug robbed the GameStop store at 5143 South Pulaski at 7:00 p.m. Sunday,

5143 South Pulaski

August 18. The store had just closed for the day when an employee--a 19-year-old Brighton Park man--walked in front to retrieve a case of video games. At that point, the offender forced him back inside the store and flashed a blue-steel hand gun. He ordered another employee--a 36-year-old Clearing woman--to empty the cash register. She did, and surrendered about $450 cash.

The criminal then bolted from the store, jumping into an older green sedan and speeding away north on Pulaski. The robber is described as a black man age 25-35, 5'10 to 6'0 and 160-175 pounds, brown eyes, black hair, dark complexion, wearing a black baseball cap, white t-shirt and black jeans.

* * *

* * *

A burglar alarm appears to have thwarted a criminal who broke into H. Dog, 5341 South

5341 South Archer

Archer. Police responding to a tripped alarm at 3:28 a.m. Monday, August 19 said they discovered a door lock punched out. The owner arrived a while later and said that nothing appeared to have been stolen.

* * *

A 17-year-old gangbanger from Cicero was arrested on a weapons charge after police reportedly found a pistol and rounds of ammunition wrapped up in a white sock in the trunk of a car he was in.

Alejandro Ocampo is scheduled to appear in Cook County Circuit Court Branch 48, 155 West 51^st Street, on Thursday, August 22.

According to police, Ocampo and two others—Jose Zamora, 24, of Cicero and Joshua Lopez, 20, of Berwyn were seated in a parked Mitsubishi near 71^st and Lawndale at about 3:00 p.m. Thursday, August 15. Police said that as they approached the car, the three slouched down in an apparent effort to hide themselves.

A search of the vehicle reportedly yielded the gun and ammunition. Police that Ocampo claimed ownership of the gun. Since all three are admitted gang members, according to police, Zamora and Lopez were charged with violating the terms of probation/parole (in which they prohibited from contact with gang members). Their court date is Thursday, September 26 in Cook County Circuit Court Branch 34, 155 West 51^st Street.

* * *

* * *

A 16-year-old Summit boy told police that he was robbed of a cell phone at 6300 South Narragansett at 3:30 p.m. Monday, August 19. The boy said he was trying to sell the broken phone via craigslist and was supposed to meet a prospective buyer at the location. Once the buyer had the phone in his hands, however, he pulled a knife and announced that he was taking it without paying. He then reportedly pedaled away on an orange Mongoose bicycle. The victim told police he knows the offender and gave a description.

* * *

A 14-year-old West Lawn girl told police she was robbed of her purse and cell phone while she was walked down a sidewalk with a friend near 58th and Springfield at 9:00 p.m. Monday, August 19. She said that two white Hispanic girls pulled up in a black Nissan Murano, jumped out, shouted obscenities and hit her with their fists before committing the robbery.

* * *

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, August 27. 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 kicked in a side window of an apartment near 57th and Kenton and stole a laptop computer and an iPad. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 28-year-old woman, when she came home from work at 7:00 p.m. Monday, August 19.

* * *

Burglars pried open the service door of a garage near 58th and Kenneth and stole a tile cutter, a tree pruner, a lawn mower, an air compressor, a bicycle and a water pressure monitor. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 34-year-old woman, at 6:50 p.m. Sunday, August 18.

* * *

Burglars opened the unlocked service door of a garage near 52nd and Avers and stole a

snow blower, an electric sprayer, a tree trimmer, a tree pruner and a wire cutter. The crime was discovered by the victim, an 84-year-old woman, at 1:15 p.m. Saturday, August 17.

* * *

Burglars forced open the overhead door of a garage near 52nd and Kolin and stole a laptop computer and a tool box. They also smashed the passenger window of a 2003 Toyota Sequoia parked inside. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 43-year-old woman, at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, August 18.

* * *

A 60-year-old Skokie man told police he was robbed at the Mobile gas station at 5448 West 55^th Street. He said a robber came up behind him, snatched his cell phone and fled on foot at 4:10 p.m. Tuesday, August 13—although he did not report the crime until two days later. The robber is described as a black boy age 15-16, 5’9 and wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans.

* * *

Burglars pried open the service door of a garage near 69^th Place and Lawndale and stole a computer printer, a canopy, a tool box, four auto tires, a car jack and two hoes. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 27-year-old man, at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, August 15.

#  #  #