CHICAGO — At least seven rideshare drivers have been choked, threatened with weapons, and carjacked by passengers who requested rides to the area around Garfield Park, according to a new community alert from Chicago police.
CPD said up to six offenders are working together. They order rides through the app, and everything goes smoothly until they arrive at their destination near the West Side park. That’s when the crew turns violent, brandishing a knife or a gun or putting the driver in a chokehold from behind, according to CPD.
The group demands the victim’s valuables and drives away with their cars.
Hijackings occurred in the:
- 3500 block of West Van Buren at 11:40 p.m. on January 5
- 300 block of South St. Louis at 11:30 p.m. on January 18
- 1200 block of South Troy at 2:14 a.m. on January 19
- 3300 block of West Harrison at 8:53 p.m. on January 20
- 3800 block of West Polk at 11:33 a.m. on January 20 and again at 12:11 a.m. on January 25
- 3500 block of West Flournoy at 2:55 p.m. on February 2
CPD’s alert described the hijackers as thin Black male teenagers who wore dark clothing and ski masks.
Area Four detectives are handling the investigation. They can be reached at 312-746-8253 regarding crime pattern #25-4-002.
