As CPD announces another Wrigleyville kidnapping, robbery, community ups security budget
Wrigleyville crime: Chicago police investigating 5th incident in 2-day period
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The East Lakeview Chamber of Commerce is increasing its budget for private security after yet another robbery and abduction was uncovered in Wrigleyville, ahead of Halloween.
Chicago police confirmed Wednesday they are investigating a fifth robbery and abduction in Lakeview within a two-day period over the weekend.
All five incidents happened near Wrigley Field. In each case, victims were forced into a car, robbed, then kicked out of the car.
"There's a lot of eyes, a lot of cameras, a lot of light on Clark Street," said Sam Sanchez, owner of Old Crow Smoke House, which is just steps from some of the incidents. "Clark Street they shouldn't take lightly, because we're pretty organized over there."
On Thursday, he's meeting with police, hoping to get more resources.
"We want more police. We definitely want more police; I mean we know that there's a shortage and a lot of people are retiring and you know, so we definitely need more police," he said.
Chicago police said three of the incidents happened between midnight and 1:15 a.m. Saturday and Sunday along the 3400-, 3500-, and 3600-blocks of North Clark Street, as well as the 1100-block of West Addison. The fifth incident also happened in the 1100-block of West Addison, police said.
Police said the men in question forced the victims into a gray sedan at gunpoint and robbed them of their cellphones and wallets, before kicking them out of the car.
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The chamber of commerce is increasing its security budget from $50,000 to $300,000 after the incidents.
"We want our customers and people and neighbors to know that we are here, and they can approach private security; and they're in contact with police," Sanchez said.
The neighborhood has been on high alert for days. Many residents are hoping police have some sort of surveillance images of the suspect car, since there are so many cameras in the busy area.
"It's alarming. I mean my wife and I live here, and we're Chicago residents of Wrigleyville and we hear that crime. It's frustrating," Wrigleyville resident Jacob Martinez said.
This weekend is also expected to be warm, which means more people will be out and about in the neighborhood.
"It's very scary. I've lived in this neighborhood for two years now, and I feel like I've changed a lot of my patterns of what I do because of what's happening around here," Wrigleyville resident Olivia Ottenfeld said.
CPD declined to comment on any plan to increase patrols.
