Police Warn Of Carjackers Rear-Ending Vehicles In Traffic, Then Stealing Them

By Rachel Cromidas in News on Apr 14, 2017 6:31PM

400 North Damen Avenue, via Google street view.

Police are warning Near West Side residents about multiple carjackings reported in April, in which car thieves would cause minor car crashes in order to create a distraction and drive off in the cars.

In at least two incidents, car thieves would drive in traffic and rear-end the vehicles they wanted to steal. Then, once the drivers of the rear-ended cars got out of their cars to check the damage, a thief would jump into the car through the driver-side door and drive off in the car.

The incidents were reported in the 1100 block of South Racine Avenue on April 7 at 5:25 p.m., and in the 400 block of North Damen Avenue on April 10 at 7:30 p.m.—both are located in the 12th Police District on the West Side. According to the police alert, the carjackers were identified as two black men, around 25 years old, between 5'04" to 5'06" and 140 to 160 lbs, and one has a possible facial scar.

Police recommend that victims of a carjacking report suspicious activity to the police immediately, get contact information from witnesses and look for video surveillance of the incident, remain calm if confronted by a carjacker, and try to remember any physical characteristics of the person. The police also say to never pursue a fleeing attacker.