A 19-year-old Chicago woman told Riverside police on Wednesday that about 6 p.m. she was walking northbound on Desplaines Avenue in the vicinity of 31st Street when a Lincoln Navigator pulled up beside her. A man reportedly jumped out of the vehicle, grabbed the woman’s arm and attempted to take her purse and iPhone.
The victim screamed and ran toward homes in the area, and the alleged offender got back into the SUV, which made a U-turn and fled south toward 31st Street. At the time of the incident, the woman was walking to the North Riverside police station in connection with an unrelated incident, police said, who added that the victim was not injured in the robbery attempt. There was no description of the offender available. The black Lincoln Navigator involved in the incident may have had a Mexican flag hanging from the rear-view mirror, according to police.
Two arrested for vehicle break-ins
Riverside police on Wednesday arrested two men in connection with reported vehicle break-ins that evening in the 200 blocks of Lawton Road and East Quincy Street.
Cicero resident Macedonio F. Diaz, 18, was charged with felony burglary to motor vehicle while a 22-year-old Cicero man was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass to a vehicle.
A resident of the 200 block of Lawton Road called police about 9:25 p.m. to report that a vehicle had been burglarized and the offenders may have been with a group of males riding bikes.
About 45 minutes later, police received another 911 call reporting that five males in dark clothing and riding bicycles had burglarized a vehicle in the 200 block of East Quincy Street.
Officers detained five suspects at Herrick and Delaplaine roads and reported finding proceeds from two Riverside vehicle burglaries on two of the suspects. Diaz and one other man were charged in connection with the incidents. The remaining three suspects were released without being charged.
The suspects reportedly told police they were riding their bikes home from Lyons through Riverside and targeting vehicles whose doors were unlocked.
Riverside home burglarized
On Wednesday afternoon, a resident of the 400 block of Kent Road reported his home had been burglarized.
When police arrived at the scene, they reported finding a ground-level side door kicked in. The home had been ransacked. A safe, cash and jewelry among the items removed from the residence.
Riverside police are working with Berwyn police, since Berwyn has reported several home burglaries that employed the same method of operation.
