Oak Park Residents, Businesses Urged To Be Vigilant

OAK PARK, IL—As vandals target Chicago and nearby communities, the Oak Park Police Department is urging residents and businesses to be vigilant. The good news is the department reported Tuesday that criminal activity Monday and overnight had diminished from the previous afternoon and night.

Following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, protests have quickly erupted all over the country, many turning violent, resulting in the destruction and looting of many businesses.

Oak Park police said they 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.

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.