Shortly after 5 p.m. Friday, Lincoln Park Alderman Michele Smith (43rd) sent an email to her constituents to announce a community forum about the city’s out-of-control carjacking problem.
Within two hours, her ward racked up two more armed carjackings.
Just before 7 p.m., a 27-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man were sitting inside a Chrysler 300 on the 1100 block of West Montana when two men walked up on both sides of the car, police said.
According to CPD, the offender on the passenger side pulled out a handgun and ordered the couple out of the car. They complied, and the carjackers drove away with their vehicle.
The carjackers drove the Chrysler to the 400 block of West Roslyn Place, where they carjacked another driver’s gray Audi Q5. They drove away with the new car, followed by an accomplice in a dark-colored Dodge Charger. The Chrysler was left behind.
The Audi and Dodge were last seen heading onto southbound Lake Shore Drive from Fullerton. Police evidence technicians processed the Chrysler, which is being returned to its owner.
Police did not release descriptions of the carjackers.
“This carjacking surge is unacceptable,” Smith told her constituents just two hours before the latest hijackings unfolded. “Since December 15, we have received 12 police alerts about 58 carjackings occurring in every corner of the city.”
Smith said her office will host an online community forum about carjackings at 6 p.m. on February 2. The CPD’s chief of detectives, the 18th and 19th police districts’ commanders, and a representative from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office will be participating, the alderman said.
You can register to participate in the forum at this link.
