'I'm Not Having It:' Homewood Man Thwarts Thief In the Act

HOMEWOOD, IL — A Homewood resident took matters into his own hands Tuesday morning, when he interrupted someone rifling through his car while it was parked at his home. John Edwards, who lives near 183rd and Dixie Highway, grabbed the thief by his shirt, shook him out and told him he was about to call the police.

Edwards — who is 6'6" — could tell he'd rattled the suspect, who began asking for forgiveness as Edwards went to call police.

Edwards had just circled back to his home from his job at The South Suburban Council, and had gone into his shed to grab some tools. It was when he closed the shed door that he heard a car door shut, too. He returned to his car and spotted what was happening.

"I foiled the crime just in the nick of time," Edwards said. "I’m thinking he heard my shed door close."

Edwards dropped everything he had in his hands and grabbed hold of the man.

"I had my hands on him, and when I started to call the cops, he pulled away," Edwards said, but not before he asked Edwards for lenience.

He was unsure of the man's intent — whether it was to rifle through his car and take items, or try to steal the vehicle entirely. Police soon arrived, but after a struggle prior to their arrival, the man had fled. Edwards is unsure if police were able to apprehend him, he said.

The incident didn't seem to shake Edwards, who said his upbringing and background have enabled him to read body language and respond quickly. When asked if he was worried the man might have had a gun, he shrugged it off.

"I’m not afraid of that, that doesn’t bother me at all," Edwards said. "I’ve been in situations where I’ve been able to take care of myself, I come from a different culture. That doesn’t bother me at all.

"I’m just a man not necessarily of the streets, but I’ve been in the streets, and I know what to expect before it happens."

Edwards wants to use the incident to remind others in his community to always be vigilant, to act wisely in how they go about their days and evenings in their community.

"Everyone has to stop being so relaxed, and thinking it can’t happen to us," he said. "We got strangers coming into our community. We all need to do our part to be safe."

He advises that people take care of tasks or errands before sunset, so they're back safely in their homes by dark. While he feels comfortable reading difficult or dangerous situations and acting quickly, he realizes that others likely don't feel as safe tapping into and acting on their instincts.

"Everybody doesn’t know what to look for, the ins and outs," Edwards said. "We just go blindly. I just want everyone to be safe."

Neighbor and friend Sarah Grace Chladek said Edwards is well-respected and considered the protector of their neighborhood, often being referred to as "Big John." The neighborhood considers him a "neighborhood watch," yet he is "very, very humble" about how his presence makes others feel, Chladek said.

"We are a very close-knit block/area," she said. "We all know each other as family practically. Many of us for generations. We all look out for each other and are very dedicated to keeping Homewood safe. We love our community and are so grateful for all it affords us, so we stand up, show up, look out and help out. John is the epitome of Homewood pride. To know him is to know his love of his community."

Edwards said he always hopes to inspire greater vigilance and teamwork in keeping each other and their neighborhood safe, despite it being inevitable that crimes are happening more often.

"I do realize that our community is changing dramatically," he said. "I’m not having it. I’m just not having it."

Safety and strength can be found in numbers, he said, something residents should remember.

"I think that’s what we have to do to let people know that 'hey, we’re here to stay, we’re strong.' We work together, we got numbers.

"It’s gonna be heard. It’s gonna be respected."

Residents are reminded to call police if they find themselves in danger or interrupt a crime. Edwards said extra vigilance can help people protect themselves and their community.

"I bought my home, raised my family in this community." Edwards said. "We did great things. Now I have my 7-year-old grandbaby, and I refuse to let my community go down.

"When I planted my trees, that was a statement. I’m here to stay."