An Old Town man was carjacked at gunpoint Tuesday evening, police said. It’s the third such crime that police have recorded in Lincoln Park since Sunday.
The victim, age 48, 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.
The victim, who was not injured, gave descriptions of two offenders to police:
- a Black male wearing a black ski mask with gray track pants had the gun
- a Black male wearing a black ski mask with a gray jacket took his wallet
Crime pattern
On Monday night, Area Three detectives warned residents of Lincoln Park that a carjacking and robbery crew had struck in the neighborhood four times since October 11, including twice on Sunday night.
Around 11:15 p.m. on November 1, 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.
The robbers also struck twice last month, detectives said.
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.
