Armed carjackers struck twice in under 15 minutes Wednesday evening in the Lincoln Park neighborhood — taking one woman’s car at gunpoint, then apparently taking another woman’s vehicle less than a block away. One of the women had their 9-year-old son in the car at the time of the crime. No one is in custody.
The incidents are the fourth and fifth carjackings to be reported in Lincoln Park since Sunday evening.
Shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday, a 31-year-old woman was standing outside her home in the 2500 block of North Southport when a man walked up and demanded her property at gunpoint, said Officer Hector Alfaro, a CPD spokesperson.
An accomplice instructed the woman to comply, and she surrendered her keys, phone, and other items. The men climbed into her black 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee and sped down the alley, Alfaro said.
About 15 minutes later, a 41-year-old woman was backing out of her garage in the 2600 block of North Bosworth when a man jumped out of a black Jeep Grand Cherokee and approached her while displaying a handgun, Alfaro said.
The woman and her 9-year-old son got out of their car, and the gunman drove away with their black 2017 Audi A7. The Jeep followed the Audi northbound.
Police released two suspect descriptions:
- a Black male between 18- and 25-years-old standing 5’5” to 5’10” tall wore dark clothes and a dark face mask
- a Black male between 5’5” and 5’9” tall wore a dark jacket and dark blue jeans with a white face mask.
Alfaro said police have not yet confirmed that the two carjackings were committed by the same men.
None of the victims was injured.
Carjacking spike
Three other carjackings and attempted carjackings have been reported in Lincoln Park since Sunday evening.
Tuesday night, a 48-year-old man was unloading his car in the 1800 block of North Sedgwick when three men approached him from behind around 11:15 p.m., said Karie James, a CPD spokesperson.
One carjacker demanded the man’s keys at gunpoint while another reached into the victim’s pocket to take his wallet, James said. The gunman then jumped into the passenger seat of the victim’s gray 2011 Audi while the second offender got into the driver’s seat. They sped away southbound on Sedgwick, according to James. The third offender followed the stolen car in the crew’s white four-door Honda or Toyota, she said.
Around 11:15 p.m. on Sunday, a 38-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man were sitting in a car on the 400 block of West Wrightwood when two men emerged from a passing black SUV. One of the offenders tried to rob the man of his bag, police said. The woman sped away before the robbery succeeded, and the offenders fled, said Officer Hector Alfaro, a CPD spokesperson.
About 20 minutes later, two men got out of a black SUV and forced a woman from her car in the 600 block of West Kemper, Alfaro said. The woman gave the men her valuables, and one of the men drove away in her car. She was not injured.
On Monday night, Area Three detectives warned residents of Lincoln Park about the carjacking crew and said the robbers had struck in the neighborhood four times since October 11.
Citywide carjacking surge
Carjacking reports are up 120% in Chicago this year as of October 24, according to CPD records, with 1,018 cases reported. There were 463 carjackings in the same period last year.
Carjackings in Lincoln Park were up by only two cases as of October 24, from eight cases to ten. That total does not include this week’s incidents.
In Lakeview, carjacking reports have increased from four to twelve so far this year. The Near North Side is up from six to 21, and the Loop has risen from five to twelve.
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