Northwest Side residents got a fresh warning from Chicago police this week, as officers in the 25th District put out a community alert about a run of armed robberies, thefts from parked cars and damage to vehicles. The message: spread the word, keep an eye out and pick up the phone to call 911 if anything looks off.
Residents of the 025th District, please share this Community Alert with your neighbors in regards to recent armed robbery, burglary from vehicle, and criminal damage to vehicle. Call 911 to report any suspicious activity.
— CPD 25th District (@cpd25thdistrict) April 16, 2026
What the Alert Says
The notice, posted on the district’s official X account, flags recent armed robberies along with burglaries targeting parked vehicles and criminal damage to cars. It also reiterates a standing request that residents “call 911 to report any suspicious activity,” according to CPD 25th District.
Where the 25th District Covers and Who to Contact
The 25th District, known as Grand Central, covers a big swath of the Northwest Side, including parts of Montclare, Belmont Cragin, Hermosa, Logan Square, Humboldt Park and Austin. The district listing puts the station at 5555 West Grand Ave and lists the CAPS email [email protected] for neighborhood tips, per the Chicago Neighborhood Policing Initiative.
Context: Vehicle-Targeted Crimes Across the District
This is not the first time the 025th has sounded the alarm over crimes tied to cars. Previous community alerts from Chicago police have warned that offenders sometimes zero in on parked vehicles and may use stolen cars to commit later armed robberies. A November 2022 alert on motor vehicle thefts in the district detailed where incidents occurred, urged residents to save surveillance footage and listed the Bureau of Detectives — Area Five tip line at (312) 746-7394 for information, according to CPD.
Neighborhood Safety Tips and Next Steps
Police guidance and local reporting continue to hammer home some basics: park in well-lit areas when possible, keep valuables out of sight and hang on to any video footage that might help detectives track suspects. If you spot suspicious people or vehicles, call 911 right away and, if it is safe, try to note descriptions and the direction they are heading, advice echoed across recent police advisories.
Residents with information can reach the 25th District CAPS office by emailing [email protected] or call the Bureau of Detectives — Area Five tip line. Both contacts appear in district listings and prior CPD alerts for anyone who may have details to share.
