Carjackers Follow Man Into Garage, Steal Car In Oak Park

OAK PARK, IL — Oak Park Police are trying to track down two suspects who followed a resident to his garage and stole his car at gunpoint Monday. The carjacking took place in the 700 block of N. Harvey at around 5:21 p.m., police say.

The victim told police that the suspects got out of a "dark-colored crossover type vehicle" that was parked in an alley. According to police, the victim had just pulled into their garage when a man went up to their driver's side window and pointed a small handgun at him.

Police say the victim then got out of the car and the suspect took the victim's car keys from his pocket before getting into the car and fleeing. The second suspect followed in the crossover vehicle.

The suspects were last seen fleeing southbound through a nearby alley.

The first offender was described as a black male between 18 and 24 years old with a thin build, standing between 5'10" and 6' tall. He was last seen wearing dark pants, a black leather jacket, and a skull cap. No description was provided for the second suspect.

Police reports did not indicate the make or model of the stolen vehicle. The total loss was estimated to be $65, 100.

The incident comes just a week after an Oak Park woman was the victim of an attempted armed carjacking with her infant in the backseat. Oak Park Police have a public discussion on crime planned for Dec. 7 and Dec. 8.

Community organizer, teacher, and Congressional candidate Anthony Clark, who lives not far from where the carjacking took place, said he heard helicopters circling the area Monday. Clark stressed the importance of open dialogue between community leaders and residents Tuesday, “I continue to say the health of one community directly impacts the health of another. Issues that many believed were exclusive to areas like Austin are indeed present in areas such as Oak Park."

He added, "We must be proactive in responding to these issues, working with neighboring communities, as well as improving our personal safety. As community members this means doing everything from holding community leaders accountable in creating greater positive opportunities for citizens to learning what personal actions limit opportunities to become a victim. It truly takes communities to make a difference and we have to focus on building bridges to reach change and not walls”

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