Another Lincoln Park Attack

By Amy Mikel in News on Nov 17, 2008 9:20PM

Crime novelist Laura Caldwell, 41, was attacked last week while jogging in Lincoln Park, at 5:30 p.m. near the intersection of Seminary and Altgeld. Two men came up from behind, smashing Caldwell's face into the pavement and knocking out her front teeth, then grabbing her iPod and running off. On her website, Caldwell said, "You might see some media reports about me being mugged while out for a run in my Chicago neighborhood. Yep, kind of got my butt kicked. Lost some teeth, but got some new ones. The swelling is way down, the ego is still a little bruised. I'll be back to writing on Monday."

This incident follows an armed robbery at the same intersection on November 6th, just after 11 p.m. and a stabbing in late October at the corner of Halsted and Armitage. According to police records, within the past month, two assaults and a purse-snatching have also occurred within three blocks of Caldwell's mugging. The Sun-Times story makes mention of another attack that happened November 5th in Lincoln Park; a situation so scary and traumatic for the victim that she took it upon herself to write an email about what happened, asking that her story be passed on and pleading for women to be freshly conscious of their safety:

I wanted to tell everyone what happened to me because I would never want this same thing to happen to anyone else. I think I just got a little too comfortable with my surroundings and gained this false sense of security that "It won't happen to me," "It won't happen in this neighborhood," etc. etc. etc.

What I think attracted the guys to us is that Erin was carrying a large purse. I don't even know if they saw my purse because it was a small, black hand clutch, but Erin had a large light colored shoulder bag. This may have made us easy targets. Girls please think about then when going out at night. For girls and guys both you never know. Crazy people do crazy things, and especially as this economy is so bad right now....people are getting desperate and will do terrible, cowardly things to get money or whatever it is they need. Protect yourself and your friends.

NEVER WALK ALONE. Never walk at night - I'm telling you...the $7 cab ride is worth it.
Please pass this message along to everyone you know.

Image of Laura Caldwell taken from her website