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 12-year-old bucket boy was robbed on the street in front of the Clarion Hotel at 7353 South Cicero at 1:35 p.m. Friday, December 27. The victim told police, "I was just beatin' on my bucket" with a 15-year-old fellow street performer when three thugs approached. One hit him in the head and stole $17 cash from his pocket before running away south on Cicero. The other bucket boy also was hit in the head, but was not robbed.

The boys refused medical attention, and police transported them back home to West Englewood. The robber is described as a black boy age 17, brown eyes, short black hair, dark complexion, wearing a black hoody and blue jeans. The two with him were described only as black males.

Bucket boys, viewed by some as enterprising street musicians trying to make an honest dollar and by others as a nuisance and even swindlers, have appeared on an increasing number of streets in the city in recent years. (Video below for illustration purposes only. This is not the victim.)

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A 37-year-old Chicago Lawn man has been charged with the murder of an 18-year-old Scottsdale woman that occurred at a house party near 63rd and California at 10:15 p.m.

Adan Montano

Monday, January 6.

Adan Montano faces one count of first degree murder, police said. The victim, Stephanie Serrano of 83rd and Komensky, was stabbed several times, including in the eye and armpit. She was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after 11 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 812 (see map), come to St. Symphorosa School at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 8. 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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A 28-year-old woman from Athens, Georgia was robbed as she sat on a westbound CTA bus near 55th and Kostner at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, January 4. The woman was headed to Midway Airport to catch a flight and was seated near the back door of the bus, texting on her cell phone, when two criminals snatched the phone and bolted from the bus. The robbers are described as black boys age 17, 5'9 to 5'10 and 180 pounds, black hair, dark complexion.

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A 27-year-old Alsip man was robbed at knife point by a man who gave him a ride in his car. The crime occurred at the west edge of Ford City Mall, 7601 South Cicero, on New Year's Day. The victim had offered the man $12 to drive him home. The offender then pulled a knife and took $20 cash from the victim, before driving away south on Cicero in a small, dark car. The offender is described as a black man age 35-40, 5'8 and 160 pounds, brown eyes, black hair, light complexion.

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An 18-year-old gangbanger was shot, apparently by a rival gang member, as he walked on a sidewalk in front of 3717 West 81st Place at 11:15 a.m. Monday, December 30. The victim told police that the shooter appeared to be an Arab man, with no other description provided. 

After being hit twice in the left arm and once in the left side of his stomach, the victim fled on foot, eventually finding a Streets and Sanitation truck near 82nd and Lawndale and asking for help. The crew member, a 56-year-old South Side man, called police. The victim was transported via CFD ambulance to Christ Hospital.

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Burglars entered a garage near 61st and Kostner and stole an air compressor and two cases of beer. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 40-year-old woman, at 3:30 a.m. Thursday, January 2. She explained to police that she had not locked the service door to the garage, because the lock freezes in winter.

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Burglars broke into a home near 56th and Kolmar and stole two watches, assorted jewelry, a money clip and two collectible coins. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 60-year-old man, when he came home from work at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, January 2 and found his bedroom ransacked.

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Burglars forced open the rear window of a home near 56th and Lawndale and stole three laptop computers, a camcorder, an Xbox 360 video game console, and assorted jewelry worth $3,000. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 36-year-old woman, when she came home at 1:23 a.m. Wednesday, January 1.

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