Tuesday, January 16, 2024   |   View in browser

Weekly Deployment Meeting Highlights

In this post, a community member who sits in on the Evanston Police
Department’s weekly Deployment Meeting shares notes on the topics discussed and writes about public safety matters of interest to people who work or live in Evanston.

Hyundai and Kia Vehicles Targeted by Thieves in 2023

Credit: Depositphotos

While 2023 was a very good year for car thieves, the same cannot be said for Kia and Hyundai automobiles.  According to the Crime Analyst, they represented 62 percent of the 255 stolen and attempted stolen vehicles.

By now, most of us are aware of a design flaw that puts hot-wiring these cars within the skill sets of most offenders who were emboldened by a 2022 TikTok challenge. Subsequent security patches by the vehicle manufacturers have not eradicated the problem.

Overall, vehicles on the south side of Evanston in Beats 72 and 78 were most at risk. Police believe that the majority of the thieves are local youth who steal the cars to joyride or commit additional crimes. More than two-thirds of the vehicles are recovered right here or in Chicago. There were 11 such incidents in the most recent deployment period.

Vehicle-related incidents, including thefts, break-ins, and catalytic converter thefts, dominate This Week’s Crime map. A recap of other incidents follows.

Weekly Crime Map

Click to enlarge

Deployment Meeting – January 10, 2024 

Discussed at the meeting:

Catalytic Converter Theft

A catalytic converter was removed from a 2013 Hyundai Sonata in the 400 block of Greenwood between 12/22 and 1/3. There were 144 catalytic converter thefts in 2023, mostly taken from vehicles in south Evanston, where, according to EPD statistics, Toyota Prius, Honda Accord and Honda Civic vehicles were targeted.

Graffiti/Hate Crime

Graffiti was observed in three locations. The most significant, though, was the report of anti-Semitic symbols and language at the front of a house in the 600 block of Judson. The EPD was able to link the graffiti to a woman suspected of at least seven similar incidents. On 1/7, a 30-year-old female Chicago resident was charged with a hate crime and multiple incidents of criminal damage to property. 

Motor Vehicle Attempts, Recoveries, and Thefts

Attempts

• 1/2 - 1500 block of Crain, 2014 Kia Soul with broken window
• 1/2-3 – Davis and Ashland, 2023 Kia Niro, shattered window, damaged steering column
• 1/2-3 – 800 block of Sherman, 2017 Kia Forte, broken window
• 1/3 – 1600 block of Thelin, 2014 Kia with broken window, and damaged steering column
• 1/3 – 2100 block of Cleveland, 2021 Kia Soul with forced entry and damaged steering column
• 1/3 – Harvard and Barton, Hyundai Electra, damaged steering column, missing ignition
• 1/9 – 1000 block of Brummel, 2021 Kia Forte, broken window, and damaged steering column

Recovered

• 1/7 – 600 block of Howard, 2017 Kia Optima, stolen and recovered.
• 1/5 – 3000 Park Place, vehicle (no model given) stolen from Skokie
• 1/5 – 2200 block of Foster, 2016 Kia Soul, stolen from Chicago

Stolen

• 1/4 – 2200 Main, offender exited a stolen Alfa Romeo and stole a 2016 Infiniti.

Residential Burglary

Two victims in the 900 block of Lee reported that luggage in their residence had been damaged and cash was also missing. They believe the burglary occurred sometime between 1/1 and 1/4. Detectives are investigating.

Road Rage Suspect Arrested

It was Christmas Eve around 6:30 p.m. when a motorist appeared at EPD headquarters reporting that an individual was following him and driving erratically.  The offender, still in pursuit, blew the stop sign at Lake and Elmwood, almost colliding with two squad cars. He managed to escape, but police were able to identify the driver, a 52-year-old male Chicago resident. A Special Bulletin was issued and driver was arrested by Glencoe PD on 1/7, charged with felony Aggravated Assault along with Fleeing and Eluding.

Robbery

On 1/6, CTA called to report a victim in front of the Davis Street station with a bleeding head wound. The victim reported that he had been struck with a firearm and robbed. He was transported to Evanston Hospital where he made several inconsistent statements about the incident. Detectives reviewed CTA video and it was revealed that the victim had been attacked by an unknown offender. Detectives continue to investigate.  

On 1/7, a man walking near Dempster and Wesley around 8:00 p.m. reported being approached by two males driving a Tesla and wearing ski masks who attempted, unsuccessfully, to rob him.

Weapons-Related Incidents

There were two Shots Fired events on the south side, but none yielding any evidence in the form of either spent bullets or shell casings.

• 1/5 – 8:52 PM near Sheridan and Keeney. Multiple callers heard 4-5 shots in the area.
• 1/7 – 11:02 PM in the 600 block of Hull. Officer heard a loud report.

On 1/5, an unspent 9mm round was found on the front steps of a building in the 1800 block of Darrow.

Unlawful Use of a Weapon (UUW)

On 1/6, police conducted a stop on an illegally parked vehicle in the 2000 block of Darrow. An individual in the passenger seat, a 26-year-old male resident of Chicago, was asked to exit the vehicle when open alcohol was discovered in the car.  A loaded 9mm Ruger was observed in his waistband. He was subsequently charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon as an armed habitual criminal.

Vehicle Burglaries

All five car break-ins were to unlocked vehicles:

• 1/7 – In the overnight hours, on the 1300 block of Pitner
• 1/6 – 3:00 a.m. in the 1600 block of Dempster. The owner’s security camera captured an image of the offender.
• 1/4 - Between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. in the 300 block of Callan.
• 1/3 – Between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. in the 1500 block of Ashland. Also, 11:41 PM in the 1600 block of Lake.

These are crimes of opportunity. If you’re parking on the street, park near a streetlight if you can. Do not leave valuables in plain sight, and please, please, take the extra few seconds to lock your car.

The week ahead

Prepare for the cold. Please keep an eye on the Department and City's social media platforms for information about warming centers.

Inquiring Minds: What You Need to Know About the End of Cash Bail in Illinois

On July 18, 2023, the Illinois Supreme Court released a ruling that upheld the pretrial release provisions of the SAFE-T Act as constitutional, making Illinois the first state in the nation to completely eliminate cash bail. The policy went into effect on September 18, 2023.

The end of cash bail is a big step toward a more equitable justice system. The previous system often penalized individuals, especially those of color, based on their financial status rather than the severity of their alleged crimes. Advocates say that this move will reduce pretrial detention rates and address the socio-economic disparities in the legal system. Detractors don’t agree.

With the Safe-T Act firmly in place, judges make decisions based on the individual's flight risk (the goal of the former cash bail system) and potential danger to the community rather than their ability to pay.

Clearing up some confusion: People arrested for certain serious forcible felonies — such as first- and second-degree murder, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual assault, violent robberies and burglaries, residential burglary, home invasion, and hate crimes — can still be denied pretrial release. There are charges deemed eligible for detainment at the request of the State’s Attorney’s Office, but the judge ultimately rules if the request for detainment is granted.  

The ruling has only been in place for three months, so it’s too early for statistics that will support the positions of its advocates or critics. I asked Commander Glew for his opinion on the subject. Here’s what he said: As a department, we are making the necessary adjustments to the new law and hope it achieves the goal of balancing fairness and safety.  

Got a question for Insider? Send them here and we’ll try to answer them in a future issue.

The weekly deployment report is an informational bulletin prepared by a community member that keeps citizens informed about what police do on a weekly basis. Information contained in this report is not to be considered as a media/press release. Any information considered by a media source from this bulletin needs to be verified by an official from the department. This can be done by contacting the media line at 847-866-5026.