Bridgeport residents are being cautioned about a string of garage burglaries in their neighborhood, as detailed by the Chicago Police Department's latest community alert. According to the report, a series of incidents have occurred where an unidentified individual has broken into residential garages, stealing a variety of items such as bicycles, tools, car radios, and ladders. These burglaries have been noted to take place in the early morning or late evening hours across several blocks of the community.
The offender is described as an African American male with long curly hair, outfitted in a black face mask, black hooded sweatshirt, and black pants. The break-ins have been recorded on the Chicago Police Department website, with occurrences reported on the 2800 block of S. Loomis, the 900 block W. 33rd Pl., the 1100 block of W. 34th Pl., and the 1200 block of W. 33rd Pl.
Residents are urged to take precautionary measures to secure their property. These include keeping perimeter lighting robust, ensuring all doors and windows remain locked, and maintaining the garage door closed when unattended. The community alert also advises locking vehicles even inside garages and to promptly repair any compromised points of entry, such as broken windows, doors, or locks.
It's recommended that valuable items have their serial numbers recorded, and any suspicious activities should be reported to authorities immediately. In the event of witnessing a burglary, the Chicago Police Department urges citizens not to pursue the suspect but to instead relay the information to the police. "Never pursue a fleeing assailant; provide the information to the police," the alert states. For those with video surveillance, saving a copy of the incident for detectives is crucial. Furthermore, if individuals have been victimized, it is important to refrain from touching anything and to call the police without delay, ensuring to dial 9-1-1 and remain on the scene where possible.
