A group of hijackers held a man at gunpoint and took his car in Uptown yesterday evening, police said. The victim was not injured, and no arrests have been made. Wednesday’s carjacking comes amid a spike in similar crimes.
Police said a 41-year-old man was walking southbound on Glenwood Avenue from Argyle Street when he was approached by three strangers who displayed a handgun around 7:11 p.m. The offenders ordered the victim to lead them to his car, which was parked on Argyle, and he complied, according to CPD spokesperson Kellie Bartoli.
When they arrived at the car, the men got into his gray Honda Civic and drove away westbound on Argyle. Police did not describe the offenders. Area Three detectives are investigating.
While carjacking reports have declined since a huge wave of hijackings crested in December and January, cases are still being reported at levels well above last year, according to city data. After a lull, carjackings are again popping up with greater frequency:
- A 19-year-old man and an 11-year-old boy are charged with attacking and carjacking a man in the 600 block of West Buena on Saturday afternoon, May 15.
- Police handled three carjacking reports in an hour early Sunday in West Town and the Near West Side.
- Armed carjackers took a woman’s car at gunpoint in Lakeview on Wednesday, May 12.
- A Rogers Park man was carjacked by a man who ordered him out of his car as he parked near Arthur and Greenview on Thursday, May 13.
