For a few tense minutes late Friday on Chicago’s South Side, a routine stop turned into every parent’s worst nightmare when a 10-year-old child was briefly kidnapped after two men jumped into a running SUV and sped off, police said. Officers found the vehicle a short time later, and the child was recovered unharmed as detectives launched an investigation.
According to FOX 32 Chicago, the theft was reported around 11:21 p.m. when a 30-year-old man left a white SUV running in the 7300 block of S. Lafayette Avenue in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood. When he returned, the SUV was gone, along with a child in the back seat, and two unknown men were believed to be behind the wheel. Police quickly broadcast a description of the vehicle over scanners as officers fanned out to search the area.
Vehicle, a child was found a few blocks away
Officers soon located the SUV in the 7400 block of S. Stewart Avenue, just a few blocks from where it was taken, and found the child inside uninjured, ABC7 Chicago reported. No one was in custody as of Saturday morning, and area detectives are leading the investigation.
How does this fit into a larger pattern
Carjackings and vehicle thefts have been a stubborn problem across Chicago, and reporting has shown that some juvenile crews have used stolen vehicles to commit robberies and other crimes. As WBEZ documented, groups of youths have been tied to yearslong sprees that involved vehicle theft and related offenses.
What residents should do
The Chicago Police Department has previously urged residents not to leave vehicles running and unattended and to keep keys with them at all times. The department has also shared prevention tips on a carjacking-focused webpage, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Anyone with information about Friday’s incident is asked to contact Area detectives or call 911.
