West Cook News

In a series of early morning incidents on Sunday, Sept. 24 a group of armed offenders, involving 4-5 black males, targeted victims in various locations in Oak Park.

These incidents included thefts, physical assaults, and carjackings, with the offenders utilizing a stolen white BMW that was later recovered by the Chicago Police Department.

“There were six robberies and violent attacks on residents and workers on the north side of Oak Park in the overnight hours of Saturday night. All involved victims being threatened with firearms. Two of the victims were struck in the face with guns and required medical attention,” Oak Park Scanner said on X.

As with other parts of Cook County, crime has been on the increase in Oak Park, rising 11% in 2022.

Still, such an unabated crime wave is largely unheard of in Oak Park.

The crime problem is part of a broader issue for the region that critics say is due to lax prosecution under Kim Foxx’s tenure as state’s attorney for Cook County.

In Chicago the number of murders has drastically climbed recently, reaching new highs not seen since 1994. In 2022 alone, burglaries increased by 33 percent, thefts increased by 61 percent, and auto thefts increased by 45 percent, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx was backed by Oak Park Democrats when she arrived on the political scene, Wednesday Journal reported.

Foxx later received 68% of the vote in the village.