CHICAGO — Just weeks after Lakeview business owners reported a string of burglaries, police warned of a series of robberies and said homes and cars of neighborhood residents are being targeted by thieves, police said.
Police issued an alert Tuesday about one or more thieves going into apartments through unlocked windows late at night or during the early morning. During two of the incidents, the victim's car keys were taken and the parked cars were later stolen, according to police.
Police also warned Lakeview residents of a series of robberies over the weekend, two of which involved victims who were attacked from behind. The first incident happened at 2:15 a.m. Aug. 29 in the 2800 block of North Clark Street, and another was reported at 15 minutes later in the 400 block of West Wellington Avenue, police said. A similar incident was reported in Uptown on Aug. 31.
Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) did not immediately return a request for comment, and police would not answer further questions about the robberies and burglaries Tuesday.
The crime spike is something neighbors have been battling for months. In June, Tunney said he requested an increase in police manpower for the Town Hall District. While Tunney announced July 28 that Lakeview was receiving "increased resources," he declined to explain what that entailed, and police didn't elaborate, either.
Two men were arrested last week following three muggings near the Belmont 'L' station. Other recent incidents of note include a break-in at the Annoyance Theatre and the arrest of two men who pretended to have a gun and "violently" slammed a woman to the ground.
Lakeview has also recorded one homicide this year that stemmed from a robbery gone wrong June 30.
The most recent burglaries occurred:
• Between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. Aug. 27-28 in the 600 block of West Roscoe
• 12:30 a.m. Aug. 28 in the 3400 block of North Sheffield
• Between 10 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. Aug. 28-29 in the 3200 block of North Seminary
• Between 1-7 a.m. Aug. 29 in the 800 block of West Newport
• Between 9:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. Aug. 29 in the 700 block of West Barry
Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call police at 312-733-8263.
Town Hall police will meet at their headquarters, 850 W. Addison St., at 7 p.m. Wednesday with residents between Irving Park Road, Belmont Avenue, Southport Avenue and Lake Shore Drive.
September meetings for other blocks in the 19th District can be found here.
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