There is good news and bad news about the ongoing problem of jewelry snatchings downtown.
The good news is that a man is facing charges after bystanders tackled him on the lakefront and held him until police arrived.
The bad news is that the robberies have kept happening even after he was taken into custody.
Earlier this month, Chicago police issued a community alert warning about a pattern of gold chain snatchings in Grant Park, the Riverwalk, and surrounding downtown streets.
Detectives linked at least eight incidents to the same crew, describing groups of men and women who rip necklaces from people’s necks as the victims walk alone during daylight hours.
On September 12, bystanders may have put a dent in the problem, at least temporarily. Prosecutors said 18-year-old Ricardo Mujica Ravelo ripped jewelry from a 27-year-old man’s neck on the lakefront trail near the Chicago Yacht Club.
Around 3:40 p.m., witnesses called 911 as the robbery unfolded and some stepped in to pin Mujica Ravelo until police arrived. He is charged with robbery and possession of a controlled substance. Prosecutors asked Judge Antar Rivera to detain him, but she allowed him to go home on electronic monitoring.
However, the chain snatchings did not stop.
Around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, a man escaped after tearing a chain from a woman’s neck near Michigan and Ontario. He was described as having a light complexion and wearing a black jacket and black pants.
Then, two days later, around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, another chain snatching was reported at Michigan and Madison. Witnesses said the robber was Black, about 6 feet tall, with long hair, and dressed in all black. He fled west on Madison.
Among other robberies CPD has linked to the crime pattern:
- August 1, 9:30 p.m. — 1100 block of South Columbus Drive
- August 2, 9:45 p.m. — 200 block of East Balbo Drive
- August 11, 3:44 p.m. — 300 block of South Columbus Drive
- August 13, 5:25 p.m. — 300 block of East Wacker Drive
- August 22, 8:43 a.m. — First block of East Wacker Drive
- August 22, 8:48 a.m. — First block of East Wacker Drive
- August 22, 11:00 a.m. — 200 block of East Roosevelt Drive
- August 29, 4:12 p.m. — 100 to 200 block of East Wacker Drive
This year’s spree is similar to a wave of chain snatchings that spread through the Loop last summer after Lollapalooza. Robbers often swarmed lone pedestrians, snatched jewelry, and sped off on bikes or scooters. One migrant was convicted in one of those cases and sentenced to three years in prison this past June.
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