An Oak Park woman who says she was carjacked right outside her apartment building is now talking publicly about the ordeal, just as she is trying to get ready for a major surgery. The timing, she says, could hardly be worse, and the encounter has added a fresh layer of anxiety to an already stressful week.
Victim recounts sudden theft near her home
In a video interview posted April 29, 2026, the woman told FOX 32 Chicago that an attacker forced her out of her car outside her apartment complex, then took off in the vehicle. She described the incident as happening just days before a scheduled surgery. Reporter Leslie Moreno was on scene for the station, which aired footage from the parking area where the car was taken.
Police logs show vehicle incidents this month
Recent records from the Oak Park Police Department show that officers have been dealing with a steady run of motor-vehicle burglaries and thefts this month. The village's daily summaries and the Crime Incident Dashboard include multiple entries tied to vehicle thefts, according to the department's posted Activity Reports.
Regional trend worries officials
Local authorities say incidents like this are part of a much larger regional problem. Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart told a U.S. Senate committee in 2022 that the county logged more than 2,000 carjackings the previous year, a spike he argued called for coordinated work between law enforcement and the auto industry. His testimony and related Sheriff’s Office materials describe efforts to improve how stolen vehicles are tracked and how investigations move forward.
Related local coverage
Hoodline has previously covered a nearby case in which an Oak Park man was ordered held without bond in a Villa Park carjacking, underscoring how incidents in one suburb can echo in another. Our earlier story, Held Without Bond In Carjacking Case, outlines prosecutors' approach in that prosecution and the subsequent court schedule.
What the victim wants neighbors to know
In her interview, the woman urged neighbors to stay alert and said the incident has forced her to scramble to reorganize care and logistics in the days leading up to her surgery, according to FOX 32 Chicago. She told the station she hopes that anyone who saw something, or who has information about the car or the suspect, will reach out to police so investigators can follow up.
How to report tips
Anyone with information about the incident can contact Oak Park Police at 708.386.3800. Anonymous tips can be shared by calling 708.434.1636 or by using the department's anonymous-tips page. That online resource also links to the Crime Incident Dashboard for recent reports and status updates.
