Police: Girls, woman targeted in child luring, sexual exploitation incidents on NW Side

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police have issued a safety alert for women and young girls being targeted on the Northwest Side.

Four child luring and sexual exploitation incidents have taken place in the Albany Park and Irving Park neighborhoods and police have a similar suspect description in each of them.

The first incident happened on May 8 when a 14-year-old girl was walking home from school in the 4800-block of North Sacramento Avenue when a man approached her in a dark-colored vehicle and was touching himself inappropriately, police said.

On May 22, a 13-year-old girl was walking home from school in the 3600-block of West Ainslie Street when a man approached her from a four-door, older model silver sedan. He asked the girl for directions to a public restroom then started touching himself inappropriately, police said.

In the third incident, an 11-year-old girl was walking to school on May 26 in the 4100-block of North Richmond Street at about 8 a.m. when a man approached her from a full-size red or burgundy van, police said. He asked the girl to come closer to him, but she ran away and told authorities.

Later that night, a 30-year-old woman was walking in the 4300-block of North Spaulding when a man approached her from behind and touched her midsection through her clothing. She confronted the man, he ran away, heading north on Spaulding in the alley.

"I've never heard of that type of activity the entire time we've lived here," said neighbor Nicole Komassa.

"During the day, you don't really think about it, because it's so normalized," said neighborhood resident Sarah Walker.

In all of the incidents, the man's description is the same, but it is vague. Police said the possible suspect is described as a 25 to 40-year-old Hispanic man.

Anyone with information is asked to call Area North detectives at (312) 744-8200.