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 entered the side door of the Starbucks at 4701 South Cicero, but apparently failed

to steal much.

A passerby reportedly discovered the crime at 3:15 a.m. Friday, January 24. He told authorities that he walked inside to investigate and saw cash register drawers lying on the floor. He flagged down a passing Cook County Sheriff's officer and alerted him to the situation.

Later, a Starbucks manager (a 33-year-old Southeast Side man) told CPD that the coffee shop does not keep cash in its registers overnight, and that the only thing that appeared to be stolen was a tip jar with an unknown amount of cash in it.

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A 23-year-old Archer Heights man was robbed at gunpoint as he worked on his SUV in his garage near 47th and Tripp.

The crime occurred at 6:20 p.m. Tuesday, January 21. The victim said he felt a poke in his back and discovered that he was being held up by a pair of thugs. One of the offenders asked, "Do you want me to run up in your house?" and the victim reportedly said, "No. Take what you want."

The criminals then stole $50 cash and the victim's revolver, which was in a cabinet in the garage. They then fled on foot, west on 47th Street. One robber is described as a white man, 5'10, light complexion, wearing a red hoody and a black ski mask. The other is described as a white Hispanic man, 5'9 and 180 pounds, olive complexion, wearing a black hoody and a black ski mask.

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A 52-year-old West Elsdon woman told police that three young thugs robbed her as she walked on a sidewalk near 56th and Kostner at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, January 23. She said they pushed her to the ground, punched and kicked her, stole her purse (which contained $20 cash, credit cards and IDs) and fled on foot. She refused medical attention and described them as white Hispanic boys age 16-18, 5'6 to 5'11 and 140-170 pounds.

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A 36-year-old Clearing woman told police that she was robbed in the parking lot of Ford City Mall, 7601 South Cicero, at 2:40 p.m. January 4. She reported that she was shopping in Old Navy when a man who appeared to be concealing a weapon in his pocket ordered her and her two children (ages 5 and 7) outside.

She complied and was robbed as she arrived at her van. Stolen were a computer tablet, a pair of earrings, and her purse (which contained $100 cash, a debit card and ID cards).

She described the robber as a white Hispanic man age 35-36, 5'6 and 200 pounds, brown eyes, light complexion. She did not report the crime until Thursday, January 23, explaining that she was afraid and hesitant to come forward.

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Burglars kicked in the service door of a garage near 64th Place and Hamlin and stole a lawnmower and assorted tools. The crime was reported to police by the victim, a 35-year-old man, at 9:57 a.m. Thursday, January 23.

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Burglars kicked in the service door of a garage near 84th and Scottsdale and stole an

undetermined amount of belongings in boxes. They also dented and scratched a 2006 Mercedes Benz auto parked inside. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 25-year-old man, when he went to get a snow shovel from the garage at noon Tuesday, January 21.

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Burglars entered an unlocked garage near 45th and Kilpatrick and stole a grass trimmer, a snow blower, an electric saw and other tools. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 66-year-old man, at 8:00 a.m. Monday, January 20.

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A 32-year-old Vittum Park woman told police that burglars entered her home near 48th and Leamington and stole an Xbox 360 video game console, as well as 10 video games. The crime reportedly occurred some time after 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 20. The woman told police she thought the offenders entered via a rear window, although police reported that there was no sign of forced entry and that they saw no footprints in the snow near the window.

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