Neighbors along the Chicago Riverwalk are rattled after two women said they were grabbed from behind in separate daylight incidents over the weekend. Both women managed to get away without physical injuries, but the encounters have sparked fresh anxiety for residents and workers who rely on the popular riverfront path.
According to CBS Chicago, the first incident unfolded Saturday around 4:30 p.m. in the 900 block of North Kingsbury Street. A 45-year-old woman told police a man came up from behind and grabbed her. She screamed, and the man took off. The second report came Sunday from the 600 block of West Chicago Avenue, where a 25-year-old woman said a man approached from behind and grabbed her as well. Neither victim was hurt, and as of the latest update, Chicago police had not made any arrests.
People who live and work nearby told the station the incidents shook their sense of security and changed how they move through the area. Dog walker Kaitlyn Vanderslice said she is rethinking her routine along the riverwalk, explaining she does not want to “walk around feeling scared” and will be more alert when she is out with clients’ dogs. Other regulars along the corridor said the reports felt uncomfortably close to home in a stretch they usually consider part of their daily backyard.
River North Safety Jitters After String Of Downtown Crime
The Near North Side and River North corridor have been on edge for months amid a run of robberies and scams that prompted multiple police warnings and community alerts. Neighborhood groups say businesses and property managers have stepped up internal security messages to staff and tenants, while NBC Chicago has detailed several recent robberies in the broader area.
How To Report Suspicious Activity
Chicago police are investigating the two riverwalk reports and are asking anyone with information, photos or video to come forward. The Chicago Sun-Times notes that people with tips can contact Area 3 detectives at (312) 744-8263 or submit an anonymous tip online via CPDTIP.com. For emergencies, authorities stress that residents should call 911, and anyone with potentially useful footage is urged to preserve it and share it only through official channels.
In the meantime, many riverwalk regulars say they will be sticking a little closer to friends, keeping headphones a little lower and staying extra alert while police work to piece together what happened and who is responsible.
