Residents, businesses urged to be vigilant as vandals target Chicago, nearby communities

June 3, 2020 – After another relatively calm night, officials have not imposed a curfew tonight in Oak Park.

However, Oak Park Police are urging residents to remain vigilant and stay home in the late evening, as unrest continues to be reported in neighboring communities.

Residents are urged to call 911 if they observe suspicious or criminal behavior.

Oak Park Police are working with law enforcement agencies throughout the region to monitor conditions beyond the Village to help determine if a potential threat might develop here.

The need for nightly curfews is being determined each day based on changing conditions after the Village Board gave Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb the authority to impose a curfew if needed until June 8.

Among the crimes reported since yesterday are the following:

• June 2, 11:50 p.m., vicinity of the 100 block of Chicago Avenue, shots fired at vehicle with multiple occupants . One individual, a 25-year-old Chicago man, was shot and driven to hospital, but was uncooperative.
   
• June 2, 12:22 p.m., packages taken from a UPS truck in the 300 block of north Lombard Avenue.
   
• June 2, 1:36 p.m., a Village parking pay box was damaged on Chicago Avenue, just west of Harlem Avenue.
   
• June 2, 1:11 p.m., three projectiles impacted apartment building in the 500 block of North Cuyler Avenue.

Police depend on residents and business operators to help prevent crime. Anything that seems slightly out of place or that is occurring at an unusual time of day could be criminal activity.

Anyone with information about any incident  is urged to call 708.386.3800. Information may also be provided anonymously by calling 708.434.1636 or online at www.oak-park.us/crimetip. 

June 2, 2020 – A curfew will be in effect in Oak Park from 9 p.m., Tues., June 2 to 6 a.m., Wed., June 3 for the third consecutive night. The need for nightly curfews is being determined each day based on changing conditions.

Tonight's curfew comes as businesses in Oak Park and the surrounding area have continued to experience property damage resulting from area unrest.

Residents are urged to stay at home during the curfew, a measure intended to help ensure public safety.

Oak Park Police are working with law enforcement agencies throughout the region to monitor the situation. They are sharing information and working together to take measures necessary to maintain order and public safety.

Click here to read the curfew order…

June 2, 2020 – Oak Park Police reported today that criminal activity yesterday and overnight had diminished from the previous afternoon and night. Police credited active, involved citizens for helping keep incidents manageable by not hesitating to call 911. Calls included the following incidents:

• Jewelry store robbed –  A 27-year-old Chicago woman was charged with burglary and looting in connection with what Police called a smash-and-grab robbery of Ekokarit Jewelry, 131 N. Marion, at about 2:50 p.m., Mon., June 1. The front window of the building was smashed allowing two women to enter the store and remove various items. The pair was detained after the vehicle believed to have been used in the crime caught fire in a parking lot near Randolph Street and Austin Boulevard. Oak Park firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, but not before it damaged a second car in the lot. Latoya D. Williams was charged in connection with the burglary, but the second woman could not be positively identified as a participant. No details on what was stolen or recovered are available at this time.
   
• Denny’s armed robbery – The cashier at Denny’s, 711 N. Harlem Ave., reported that at about 9:50 p.m., Mon., June 1, a man entered the restaurant, displayed a handgun, produced a bag and ordered the cashier to put the money from the register into it. The cashier complied and the suspect fled the store, entered a vehicle that drove north on Harlem Avenue. The suspect was described as African American with a thick mustache and was last seen wearing a black shirt and black pants. No description of the car was provided. Estimated loss was $150.
   
• Tobacco store burglarized – A group of unidentified offenders broke a window and entered Tobacco & Vape, 6415 W. North Ave., at about 10 p.m., Mon. June 1, and removed undetermined amount products. The owner told police that approximately eight offenders had entered the store. He said they fled in a 2018 grey Jeep Cherokee with Colorado license plates. Police later determined the vehicle had been reported stolen.
   
• Attempted burglary – Two juveniles were detained in connection with an attempted break in at CFSC Currency Exchange, 1147 Madison St., at about 3:20 a.m. today. Oak Park Police were alerted after the pair was observed by Forest Park officers near the scene. No other details are available.

June 1, 2020 - Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb has issued a second emergency order establishing a curfew in the Village from 9 p.m. Monday, June 1 to 6 a.m. Tuesday, June 2.
The curfew order came after Oak Park Police responded to calls of damage to eight local businesses last night, one vehicle burglary and dozens of reports of graffiti. Residents are urged to stay at home during the curfew, a measure intended to help ensure public safety.
Oak Park Police remain in communications with law enforcement agencies throughout the region. They are sharing information and working together to take measures necessary to maintain order and public safety.

Click here to view the order

Most of the damage reported to businesses was of broken doors and windows, although efforts are still underway to assess the full extent of the damage.

Police reported that most of the criminal activity had ended by about 1:30 a.m.

Businesses on North Avenue appear to have borne the brunt of the vandalism.

Damaged properties included the PCS Metro cell phone store, 6319 North Ave.; A-1 Pawn Shop, 6151 North Ave.; PNC Bank, 6621 North Ave.; and Suds 2000 laundry, 6045 North Ave., where thieves attempted unsuccessfully to take an ATM.

The MedMen marijuana dispensary, 1132 Lake St.; Oak Park Jewelers, 101 S. Marion St.; Walgreens, 811 Madison St.; and Dream Town shoe store, 4 Madison St., also sustained damage.

A vehicle was reported burglarized near Judson Baptist Church in the 1200 block of North Austin Boulevard.

Much of the graffiti reported was on overhead garage doors and some vehicles in the 1000, 1100 and 1200 north blocks of Hayes, Lombard and Taylor avenues, as well as nearby LeMoyne Parkway.

The Village is working on plans to help property owners remove graffiti as soon as possible.

The vandalism overnight came after a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew had been imposed by Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb at about 7 p.m., yesterday via an emergency declaration.

Earlier yesterday Village officials had issued a statement in response to the recent death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, which had sparked widespread protests across the country.

The Village statement denounced and condemned the actions that led to Floyd’s death and pledged to work with the community to take shared steps in support of diversity, equity and inclusion.

A memorial for Floyd had been held yesterday by Village Hall without incident.

May 31, 2020 - Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb has issued an emergency order establishing a curfew in the Village from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. tomorrow. The curfew order came after vandals targeted several local businesses. Residents are urged to stay home during the curfew, a measure intended to help ensure public safety. Click here to read the order…

May 31, 2020 – Residents and business operators are urged to remain vigilant as Oak Park, Chicago and other nearby communities have reported vandalism spurred by protests of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Chicago has implemented a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Oak Park residents are urged to consider curtailing their evening activities within this time period as well, although no official local order has been issued at this time.

Business operators also are asked to be prepared to close should they feel it necessary.

Oak Park Police are in communications with law enforcement agencies throughout the region, sharing information and working together to manage road closures and other measures to maintain order and safety.

Earlier today Village officials issued a statement in response to the recent death of Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. The statement denounced and condemned the actions that led to Floyd’s death and pledged to work with the community to take shared steps in support of diversity, equity and inclusion.

The statement is posted on the Village website at www.oak-park.us/response.

Conditions may change rapidly, officials say. Updates will be posted on this webpage if necessary.