Video captures 2 of 17 Chicago South Side car thefts since beginning of month
CHICAGO (CBS) — A home security video gives a glimpse into what could be the work of a prolific group of car thieves. Police say thieves are targeting two neighborhoods and have made off with at least 17 vehicles in one week.
At least one of the vehicles stolen during the string of thefts has since been recovered. On May Street in Bridgeport, a side window from a Chevrolet Camaro was left lying on the parkway, while the Camaro itself remains without a driver-side window.
The owner of the black Camaro said police have talked to him.
While the car was recovered by police, the owner said it had all kinds of expensive parts missing and swapped out for new ones—including the tires. The calipers were taken, and there was all kinds of damage under the center console.
Police do have surveillance footage from this neighborhood, which they are reviewing to determine if they are dealing with a sophisticated ring, or just a series of isolated car thefts.
Video obtained by CBS News Chicago shows the black Camaro just as it was being stolen back on Dec. 3 around 2:48 a.m. The thieves got out of a different sedan, double-parked, and then waited as members of the crew broke the windows of the Camaro and took off. Just hours earlier and on the same block of May Street as the Camaro, another vehicle, a white Jeep Cherokee, was about to be stolen. The thief broke the window and then jumped into the backseat.
The Camaro and the Jeep Cherokee are just two of the 17 vehicles taken during the first Seven days of December in the Bridgeport and Armor Square neighborhoods. Ald. Nicole Lee (11th) says there has to be some awareness around a few things.
"If you hear car alarms, look out your window—and if you see something, you don't have to get involved, but dial 911," said Ald. Lee. "Calling the police is really important when we see suspicious activity."
Ald. Lee said she was told these were not all isolated thefts but the work of an organized team.
"I've got some indication from police that this might be the same crew involved in at least a number of these," she said.
Chicago police on Monday released an alert with only 11 of the thefts. Incident dates and locations:
- 600 block of West 24th Place on Dec. 1 at 2:10 a.m. - Armour Square
- 400 block of West 29th Street on Dec. 1, at 5:46 a.m. - Armour Square
- 3000 block of South Lyman Street on Dec. 1 at 7:30 a.m. - Bridgeport
- 3100 block of South Wells Street on Dec. 2 sometime between 12 a.m. and 12 p.m. - Armour Square
- 3100 block of South May Street sometime between Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. and Dec. 3 at 3 a.m. - Bridgeport
- 2900 block of South Loomis Street sometime between Dec. 2 at 9 p.m. and Dec. 3 at 3 a.m. - Bridgeport
- 2800 block of South Archer Avenue on Dec. 4 at 9:30 p.m. - Bridgeport
- 2900 block of South Emerald Avenue sometime between Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. and Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. - Bridgeport
- 3100 block of South May Street sometime between Dec. 6 at 1:30 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 7:40 a.m. - Bridgeport
- 3400 block of South May Street sometime between Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 8:19 a.m. - Bridgeport
- 1000 block of West 32nd Street sometime between Dec. 6 at 10 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 4:45 p.m. - Bridgeport
The Camaro was found at 48th and Rockwell streets in the Brighton Park neighborhood. The owner said police told him the thieves used his car in some sort of street takeover and burnt out his rear tires in the process—hence why they were swapped out for old, used tires.
Other than that, the Camaro owner has not heard anything else from Chicago Police.
Police are reminding residents to:
- Do not leave your keys in your vehicle or your vehicle running unattended.
- Immediately report suspicious activity.
- Keep your vehicle doors and windows secured.
- Be aware of these crimes and alert your neighbors.
- Pay special attention to any suspicious people loitering in the area.
- Immediately call 911 and provide a detailed description of the offender(s), including any vehicle description and license plate information.
- Kia and Hyundai owners can obtain anti-theft steering wheel locks from their local CAPS office.
- At all 22 police districts, residents can have a special, traceable marking etched into their vehicle's catalytic converter.
- Residents can be reimbursed for the cost of their GPS tracking device by registering with the city.
Anyone with additional information on the crimes is asked to contact Area 1 detectives at 312-747-8384 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com.