Four juveniles from Chicago, arrested at 7:05 p.m. on Jan. 23 in the 700 block of South Austin Boulevard, appear to be connected to an attempted armed carjacking earlier in the 1100 block of South Harvey Avenue.
Police detained four male juveniles at the Austin Blue Line CTA platform after officers reported they matched the description of four juveniles who had attempted to hijack a 2017 Toyota Rav 4 about 30 minutes earlier.
The four juveniles jumped the turnstile at the Blue Line station without paying fare. One was in possession of a handgun, police said. He was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon, possession of ammunition without a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card and theft of services. The other three were charged with theft of services.
Police separately reported that at 6:33 p.m., four males, estimated to be between the ages of 14 and 18, attempted to carjack a motorist at gunpoint on South Harvey Avenue. The victim parked a 2017 Toyota RAV 4 in a garage and was approached by the four males.
One of the offenders displayed a handgun and demanded the victim open the door to the vehicle. The victim drove out of the garage, and the four offenders fled on foot.
Village spokesman David Powers said that police believe the two incidents may be related.
“The investigation to determine if the incidents are, in fact, related is still underway,” Powers said in an email.
Armed robbery in Hemingway District
A River Forest man was robbed at gunpoint in the 800 block of North Boulevard about 8:15 p.m. on Jan. 21. The victim was approached by a man with a silver handgun who was accompanied by another man. The offender displayed the gun and demanded the victim’s property. The gunman’s accomplice stood and watched as his friend robbed the victim, who handed over his wallet.
The gunman removed cash and a Ventra card from the wallet and then headed southbound on Oak Park Avenue. The estimated loss is $105.50.
Theft
- A black 2018 KIA Optima, left running and unsecured, was stolen from the 100 block of North Cuyler at 3:10 p.m. on Jan 26. The estimated loss is $27,015.
- Two Oak Park juveniles were arrested in the 300 block of South Harvey Avenue at 4:32 p.m. on Jan. 23, and charged with a theft that occurred in the same block.
- A Yamaha YAS26 saxophone and case were stolen from the 200 block of North Cuyler Avenue, sometime between noon on Jan. 15 and noon on Jan. 16. The estimated loss is $2,266.
- A 2004 Ford Ranger with artwork on both sides of the vehicle and on the back window was stolen from the 400 block of North Humphrey between 3:30 and 7:05 p.m. on Jan. 21. The report noted that the keys were left in the center console. The estimated loss is $8,000.
Burglary
- A residence was targeted for burglary in the 400 block of Wisconsin Avenue, sometime between 10:30 a.m. and 4:17 p.m. on Jan. 27. The burglar attempted to defeat the deadbolt lock to the lower-level back door of the residence. No loss was reported.
- A business was burglarized in the 1000 block of Pleasant Street, sometime between 2:30 and 7:20 p.m. on Jan. 23. The burglar entered by unknown means and took a white cash register drawer that contained coupons and cash valued at $189.
- Devin Spencer, 27, of the 100 block of North Austin Boulevard, Chicago, was arrested in the 1100 block of South Oakley Avenue, Chicago, for a residential burglary that took place on Dec. 10, 2018, in the 800 block of North East Avenue.
- A residence was burglarized in the 100 block of North Francisco Terrace about 7:25 p.m. on Jan. 22. The burglar gained entry to the residence and took a copper tote bag that was later found in a rear walkway. No loss reported.
These items, obtained from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments, came from reports, Jan. 21-28, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
Compiled by Timothy Inklebarger
