Pullman residents concerned about break-ins, robberies

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Thieves are breaking into garages and smashing car windows in the historic Pullman neighborhood. Residents in the South Side neighborhood are now concerned about the recent crime spree.

The neighborhood has gotten national attention with the iconic factory Clock Tower and grounds being deemed a National Monument Park.

The historic area is also home to over 3,000 people and a recent crime spree has some residents wanting more security along with the incoming development.

"We certain want to make sure that all of our tourists and visitors feel very comfortable coming here. As a homeowner I just want to make sure that nothing is going to happen to me, my family or my neighbors. We all want to feel safe all the time," Lisa Burbank, a resident, said.

"We'd like to see more police policing the neighborhood during those hours because the burglaries seem to occur between 4 and 6 a.m.," CJ Martello, a resident, said.

It was about 4 a.m. Saturday when Emily Panozzo's dog woke her and she saw her garage door open, the window of her neighbors garage door broken and later found out a neighbors garage behind her broken into.

"I've been here for 63 years. Nothing like this has ever happened," Panozzo said.

Chicago police reported more than 30 thefts and robberies in Pullman in the last three weeks.

"I hear bam, glass shattered and I got up, I crept by the window. And then seconds later I heard crash, bang, and it was across the street from where I was," Mona Purdy, a resident, said.

Purdy is among the newer residents in the neighborhood and houses her non-profit organization in Pullman. She said her car was also among the break-ins early Saturday morning.

"It's city but, it's not the city. I'm a little scared, I don't like it," Purdy said.

Residents said they're hearing these crimes are happening in the early morning hours when people aren't around.

No one has been injured.