2 boys safe after carjacking

[chandasz]

From the Chicago Tribune:

Two young boys who were riding along with their father while he delivered newspapers early this morning were found safe after the van they were in was carjacked in west suburban Berwyn, police said.

The 24-year-old father was delivering newspapers about 3:30 a.m. on Oak Park Avenue near 26th Street when he briefly stepped out of the van, leaving the boys inside, to drop off a newspaper at a home.

The father had left the vehicle's motor running, police said. While he was away, a man allegedly jumped into the vehicle and drove off. The father ran to a nearby 7-Eleven convenience food store for help.

"He said, 'Just call the police, 911, because someone stole my car and two of my kids are in the car,'" store clerk Iqbal Ahmed told WGN-Ch. 9.

About 45 minutes later, police received an anonymous telephone call, telling them the children had been dropped off some 10 miles away, on Chicago's Near West Side, WGN reported.

Chicago police officers found the youngsters unharmed outside the Greyhound bus terminal on the 500 block of West Jefferson Street.

The boys' ages initially were reported as two years old and six months, respectively. Later reports said one child was one year old, and the other was four months.

Police in Chicago and Berwyn continue to search for the suspect and the stolen van, a red Chevrolet Astro with a white stripe, CLTV reported.

[sterling]

 
$300K bond set for carjacking suspect

By Claire Heininger
Tribune staff reporter
Published June 6, 2005, 3:26 PM CDT


Bond was set at $300,000 this afternoon for a man charged with last week's carjacking of a newspaper vendor's van with two young boys inside.

Jeffrey Wilson, 38, of the 1900 block of North Keeler Avenue, Chicago, appeared before Judge Gregory Ginex in the Maywood branch of Cook County Circuit Court.

The suspect is to return to court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing, said Tom Stanton, spokesman for the Cook County state's attorney's office.

Wilson was arrested about 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Fullerton Hotel, at 3919 W. Fullerton Ave. on the city's Northwest Side, said Scott Waguespack, spokesman for the City of Berwyn, where the carjacking occurred.

Chicago and Berwyn police located the stolen van, a red 1992 Chevrolet Astro, after receiving a telephone tip and staked out the vehicle for several hours before entering the hotel to find Wilson, Waguespack said.

Wilson was charged with vehicular hijacking, unlawful restraint and possession of a stolen motor vehicle, Waguespack said. He was being held pending a bond hearing in Cook County Criminal Court.

The boys, ages 7 months and about 2 years old, were sleeping in the back of the van as their father and grandfather delivered newspapers shortly before 4 a.m. Friday on Oak Park Avenue near 26th Street.

The men had stepped out of the van to drop off papers, leaving its motor running, when someone hopped in and took off, police said.

The boys' father, Javier Baez, 24, of Cicero, ran to a nearby 7-Eleven convenience store to call police. The boys were found about 4:10 a.m. outside the Greyhound bus terminal at Jefferson and Harrison Streets near downtown Chicago.

The brothers were reunited with their father after a checkup at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center. Neither child was injured, officials said.

[Berwynite]

Man charged in hijacking of van with kids

By Claire Heininger
Tribune staff reporter
Published June 7, 2005


A police search for a man suspected of carjacking a newspaper vendor's van Friday with two young boys inside came to an end Sunday with an anonymous tip, a three-hour stakeout and an arrest, authorities said.

Jeffrey Wilson, 38, of the 1900 block of North Keeler Avenue, Chicago, was arrested at about 3:30 p.m. at the Fullerton Hotel, at 3919 W. Fullerton Ave. on the city's Northwest Side, said Scott Waguespack, spokesman for the city of Berwyn, where the carjacking occurred.

Wilson was charged with vehicular hijacking, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and two counts of unlawful restraint, all felonies, Waguespack said.

Bail was set at $300,000 Monday when Wilson appeared before Judge Gregory Ginex in the Maywood branch of Cook County Circuit Court.

Wilson will be in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing, said Tom Stanton, spokesman for the Cook County state's attorney's office.

Chicago and Berwyn police located the stolen van after receiving a telephone tip and staked out the vehicle for several hours before entering the hotel to find Wilson, Waguespack said.

"They were pretty much on it all weekend," he said. "They were following up on every lead that they had."

The boys, ages 7 months and about 2 years old, were sleeping in the back of the van as their father and grandfather delivered newspapers shortly before 4 a.m. Friday on Oak Park Avenue near 26th Street.

The men had stepped out of the van to drop off papers, leaving the motor running, when someone hopped in and took off, police said.

The boys' father, Javier Baez, 24, of Cicero ran to a nearby convenience store to call police. The boys were found at about 4:10 a.m. Friday outside the Greyhound bus terminal at Jefferson and Harrison Streets in Chicago.

Neither child was injured, officials said.

Berwyn police also charged Wilson with criminal trespassing in a separate incident. Before the carjacking Friday, Wilson is accused of an unsuccessful attempt to enter and burglarize a nearby home, Waguespack said.

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cheininger@tribune.com









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