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 93-year-old Garfield Ridge woman was robbed and beaten by a home-invading thug at about 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 4.

The victim told police that the offender, a man who shovels snow in the area, came to the front door of her home near 57th and Monitor and asked to use the bathroom. The victim said she was hesitant to let him in, but that he pushed his way in, knocking her to the floor, hitting her repeatedly, choking her and hollering, "I want the money, or I'm going to kill you!"

The victim directed him to a place in her home where she had $40 cash stored. He took the cash but became agitated and demanded to know where she kept her jewelry, as he beat her further. She disclosed the location of her jewelry, and the criminal stole an estimated $2,000 worth of jewelry.

The assailant then ripped a phone off a wall and fled on foot.

The victim was transported via CFD ambulance to MacNeal Hospital, where she was treated for injuries described as serious.

The offender, currently at large, is described as a white man age 20-25, 5'11 to 6'1 and 150-160 pounds.

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A 24-year-old Archer Heights woman is charged with aggravated domestic battery after she

Sandra I. Calvillo

allegedly stabbed her 21-year-old sister in the stomach during an argument in an apartment near 47^th and Karlov.

Sandra I. Calvillo is scheduled to appear in Cook County Circuit Court Branch 50, 5555 W. Grand, on Tuesday, March 18, according to the Cook County Department of Corrections.

The incident occurred at 2:55 p.m. Saturday, March 1. The victim, who also had cuts on her hands, was transported by CFD ambulance to Holy Cross Hospital. She is recovering, hospital officials said.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you

live in Beat 815 or 821 (see map), come to St. Bruno School (south entrance) at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 5. 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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Three con artists posing as Water Department employees entered a home near 65^th Place and Pulaski and stole an elderly woman’s identification papers from Poland. The crime occurred at 11:35 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25. The victim, a 77-year-old woman, said the men pushed their way in her front door and insisted they needed to inspect a second-floor bathroom.

When the victim complied and went upstairs with one of the men, the other two rifled through her belongings. The woman became frightened and ran out of the house to the nearby Republic Bank, where an employee gave her refuge and allowed her to use a phone to call police.

The offenders are described as white men about 40 years of age.

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A 16-year-old Archer Heights boy told police that he was robbed at knifepoint in an alley near 49^th and Springfield at 5:20 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25. The boy said that one of the offenders brandished a knife with a six-inch blade and said, “Give me your phone before I stab you.”

The boy complied, and the men fled in a gray Chevy. The boy ran home and told his 44-year-old father. The offenders are described as black men age 22-26. The man wielding the knife is described as 6’1 and 150 pounds, brown eyes, an Afro-style haircut and a pierced eyebrow.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you

live in Beat 834 (see map), come to Bogan High School at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 6. 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 entered a residence near Archer and Merrimac and stole a TV and about $350 in change. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 35-year-old man, when he came home from work at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27. Police said they saw no sign of forced entry.

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Burglars forced open the overhead door of a garage near 58^th and Merrimac and stole a set of golf clubs, an air compressor, assorted hand tools, a snow blower, a lawn mower and a weed trimmer. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 49-year-old man, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25.

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Burglars forced open the back door of a home near 67th and Karlov and stole a TV and a radio. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 63-year-old man, when he came home at 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, although he did not report the crime until nearly 48 hours later.

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Burglars pried open the back door of a home near 48^th and Leamington and stole assorted jewelry and $800 cash. The crime was discovered by the victim, an 84-year-old woman, at 12:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, when she came home and encountered the offender in her bedroom. Upon seeing her, he fled. He is described as a Hispanic man age 40-50, 5’0 and 200 pounds.

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Burglars entered the rear door of a home near 47^th and Springfield and stole an iPad and assorted jewelry. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 34-year-old woman, when she returned home at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, and saw two men in her house. Upon seeing her, they fled. They are described as white men age 25-30.

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A home invader entered the back door of a home near 56th and Kildare and stole assorted jewelry. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 77-year-old woman, when she saw the offender on her basement stairs at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26. The victim said that the man rang her front doorbell, but by the time she made it to the front door, he had walked around the house and entered via the rear. He is described as a Hispanic man age 18-22, 5’7 to 5’9 and 130-150 pounds, with brown eyes.

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Burglars forced open the back door of a home near 63rd and Keating and stole a safe said to contain assorted jewelry, collectible coins and $500 cash. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 47-year-old man, when he came home from running errands at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21.

Police investigating the crime were told by a neighbor that earlier in the day, a man had knocked on her door and asked if she had a car for sale. She told him he must be mistaken and closed her door. A short time later, she saw the man entering the victim's backyard, but did not call police.

The man is described as Hispanic, 30-35 years of age, 5'0 to 5'4 and 115-130 pounds, black hair, wearing a multi-colored hooded jacket and blue jeans.

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Burglars forced open the service door of a garage near 68th Place and Hamlin and stole a 1993 Honda Civic parked inside. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 23-year-old man, at 7:35 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 20.

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Burglars broke through the back window of a home near 48th and Keeler and stole three TVs, a stove, a mattress, a dresser, a coat and three suits. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 43-year-old man, when he returned from vacation at 10 p.m. Feb. 7, although he did not report the crime to police until Thursday, Feb. 20.

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Burglars entered the back window of a home near 82nd and Keeler and stole a TV, a Nintendo video game console, a camera, assorted jewelry, a back massaging cushion, and $3,500 cash. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 62-year-old woman, when she returned home at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20. Police said they saw no sign of forced entry.

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Burglars broke into a fenced yard at Euro USA, 4430 S. Tripp, and stole a condenser unit valued at $15,000. The crime was discovered by an employee, a 31-year-old woman, at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 20.

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A 22-year-old Homewood man told police he was beaten and threatened with a knife to his neck by his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend at a home near 62nd and Kostner. The crime reportedly occurred at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19. The victim told police that he was at the residence to return his ex's belongings when the offender punched him in the face. 

Police observed cuts to the victim's lips and right hand, as well as bruising on his right arm and back. The victim refused medical treatment. The offender is described as a Hispanic man age 35, 6'1 and 200 pounds, brown eyes, short black hair and olive complexion. He remains at large, police said.

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Burglars forced open the back door of a home near 51st and Linder, damaged interior walls and stole copper piping. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 48-year-old man, at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. The victim told police he had just purchased the home.

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