Women fear being targeted by Chicago carjackers, alderman declares 'state of emergency' in ward
CHICAGO (WLS) -- As the number of carjackings in Chicago continue to rise, women are increasingly being targeted by criminals.
"When night falls, I'm put in a predicament in my mind to feel afraid,' said Angel Haralson, carjacking victim.
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Harlason is a rideshare driver, and was carjacked on New Year's Day by two men. She said in that moment, she thought she was going to die.
"They were quiet. No one was saying anything. I pulled over to let them out of the car, and I heard the gun click," she recalled.
The gunmen yanked the 33-year-old West Sider out of the car before throwing her to the ground and making off with her RAV-4, Apple Watch and cell phone. Haralson is still bruised, and still frightened.
"There is a different pandemic that's on the South and West Sides as we see citywide, Cook Countywide," said 16th Ward Alderman Stephanie Coleman.
Ald. Coleman said during a virtual town hall meeting that she's declaring a state of emergency concerning what she said is the specific targeting of women by carjackers.
"We as women, and our seniors, are our most vulnerable right now, and the numbers keep increasing," she said.
Ald. Coleman's claim is anecdotal, but Chicago Police Department shows that with over 150 vehicular hijackings in the city so far this year, 2021 has seen almost four times the number of carjackings compared to 2020.
Recent efforts to combat the trend include a special taskforce, private security patrols, and CPD upping the number of officers assigned to respond to carjackings, plus moving license plate reading cameras closer to expressways.
Meanwhile, Haralson struggles to cope with the violent attack as she faces the financial fallout of being without both a car and a job.
"It was so unfortunate. Never in a million years would I have thought it would be me," she said.
