Woman carjacked in Naperville preschool parking lot, police say

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WLS) -- Police are investigating after a woman was carjacked in a Naperville preschool parking lot Monday night.

Police said a 61-year-old female employee of the Ann Reid Early Childhood Center in the 1000-block of South Naper Boulevard was approached by a man armed with a gun who stole her purse and her gray 2011 BMW X5. The suspect fled southbound on Naper Boulevard, police said.

Police released a sketch of the suspect, described as a male teenager, 5'6" to 5'7", 160 pounds and clean-shaven. He was last seen wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt.

"You know, we have neighbors who are outside and are watching and things like this. It shows you that this kind of thing can happen anywhere, anytime," said William Wester, who lives across the street from the school.

Police said the suspect was brought to the scene by someone driving a white vehicle, who also left the scene before police arrived.

"Held her at gunpoint, demanded her keys and purse. He was apparently a passenger in the while vehicle because there was a driver still in the white vehicle, who drove away," said Naperville Police Cmdr. Louis Cammiso.

No one was hurt during the incident and no students were in the school at the time.

The crime is somewhat similar to a Thursday night carjacking in west suburban Western Springs, in which a 17-year-old girl was carjacked in the driveway of her home. The suspects in that case also drove up in a white vehicle.

"Our detectives are working with them to compare any similarities in the cases to further the investigation," Cammiso said.

School administrators said there were no children present at the time of the incident because it happened after school hours, and they're unaware of any threat to students or staff.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Naperville Police Department at (630) 420-6666 and ask for the Investigations Division.