Near West Side Archives

Failed crash-and-grab at Neiman Marcus is linked to citywide pattern of similar crimes, Chicago police say

December 4, 2023 6:33 PM Tim Hecke

The crash-and-grab burglary crew that slammed a car into a Magnificent Mile department store early Monday is the same group that has committed similar crimes recently downtown, in West Town, and in Wicker Park, Chicago police say.

Man gets 7 years for stealing identities by posing as a ride-share driver outside Chicago nightclubs

November 15, 2023 12:19 PM Tim Hecke

A man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for stealing people’s credit cards and identities while posting as a ride-hail service driver in Chicago. It’s the second time Gabriel Jackson has gone to the big house for the same scam.

84-year-old man is among 3 robbed, 3 more carjacked as armed caravan sweeps across North Side

November 15, 2023 6:35 AM CWBChicago

A group of armed carjackers who caravaned across the North Side are suspected of hijacking two drivers in Wrigleyville and another in North Center after robbing a man in Lincoln Square on Tuesday night. Chicago police say no arrests have been made in the hour-long crime spree.

Robbery caught on video as holdup crew sweeps West Town on Monday afternoon

November 13, 2023 7:25 PM CWBChicago

Another string of daytime robberies on Monday wound through the same Chicago neighborhoods that have been hit time and time again by similar sprees since early this year: West Town, Bucktown, and Logan Square. And one of the West Town robberies was caught on video.

Robberies up 140% since alderman announced “concrete and collaborative plan” to stop them

October 27, 2023 6:08 AM Tim Hecke

Robberies are up 140% in the 1st Ward since Ald. Daniel La Spata announced that Chicago police had concocted a “concrete and collaborative plan” to tamp down on the violence.

17-year-old charged with robbing 4 people on the Blue Line, including Whitney Young students

October 26, 2023 10:54 AM CWBChicago

A 17-year-old boy was charged this week with participating in two armed robberies on the CTA Blue Line in April, Chicago police said. Three Whitney Young students are among his victims.

West Town community groups call on city, county to take action on surging violent crime

October 26, 2023 7:40 AM CWBChicago

A coalition of neighborhood groups is calling on Chicago and Cook County officials to address “dramatic increases in violent crime,” especially armed robberies, in West Town, Logan Square, Wicker Park, and adjoining neighborhoods.

Suspect in custody after robbers take puppy at gunpoint; more holdups reported in Logan Square

October 20, 2023 11:04 AM CWBChicago

Police arrested the driver of a getaway car used by armed robbers that took a Chicago man’s dog at gunpoint overnight. Meanwhile, there were more robberies in Logan Square on Thursday afternoon and again last night.

Boys, ages 15 and 17, carjacked on-duty Chicago cop, officials say

October 11, 2023 2:10 PM CWBChicago

Two boys, ages 15 and 17, have been charged with carjacking an on-duty Chicago police officer outside the city’s 311 call center headquarters

Migrant severely injured in a fight near Chicago police station: report

October 10, 2023 11:49 AM CWBChicago

A Venezuelan migrant was severely injured in a fight with another migrant near the Near West (12th) District police station on Friday morning, according to a Chicago police report.

Man with ‘extensive criminal history’ knocked Red Line passenger unconscious for standing too close to his bike: prosecutors

December 8, 2023 7:42 AM

Officials say a Chicago man with an extensive criminal history knocked a CTA passenger unconscious because the victim was standing near his bicycle on a Red Line train in the Loop.