CB
2011-06-25 13:06:38 UTC
Flash mobs ride CTA to commit crimes, mayhem on Near North Side
Kevin O'Neil on 06.06.11
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/cta-tattler/2011/06/flash-mobs-ride-cta-to-commit-crimes-mayhem-on-north-side.html
Chicago police and Streeterville universities are warning residents
and passers-by to be aware of traveling mobs of teenagers who use the
CTA and cell phones to meet up in the Near North Side area and commit
crimes ranging from assaults to shoplifting and general mayhem.
Police arrested seven young men in their mid-to-late teen Saturday
night on "mob action" charges after about two dozen men attacked a
person parking his scooter in the 300 block of E. Chicago Avenue
across from Northwestern University's Wieboldt Hall, according to a
Tribune news report.
Other flash mob incidents this year include:
A group of 70 youths storming a McDonald's at Chicago and State and
creating a disturbance that forced the restaurant to close for three
hours.
"Flash mob offenders" exiting the Chicago/State Red Line station and
shoplifting at area stores. This behavior prompted Loyola University
to warn students and staff at its Water Tower campus.
From the Tribune report:
In mid-May, Chicago police said they were implementing strategies to
address mob action incidents and flash mobs -- which are often
coordinated through cell phone texting or social networking Web sites
-- in the downtown areas. Police, however, have stressed that this
phenomenon, involving large groups of teens, "is not unique to
Chicago."
How comforting.
And thanks to Lyletta, a friend who tipped me off to this story. She
shared her own experiences in a note to me:
When I'm going north (from the South Side) on the Red Line on the
weekend I've seen kids who clearly have never been that far north
heavily rely on directions from their phones or from texts that they
receive. If you have a reliable contact with CTA or CPD that I can
text when I see something let me know.
The CTA has told me they are not the police, and cannot accept text
messages from riders about criminal activities. And I agree. Police
must handle crime problems, but when you're just a few feet away from
an offender witnessing a crime in progress, it's just too dangerous to
whip out your phone and call 911.
Chicago Police *do* have a TXT2TIP program "so that YOU can
anonymously and SAFELY help rid your community of crime by sending
information to the Chicago Police Department via a text message from
your cellular phone."
However, the police website warns: "If you see a crime in progress or
need to report an emergency, please call 911." So, forget that option
on a CTA train crawling with knuckleheads.
Here's the full text of an alert issued by Northwestern University
after the Saturday night attack by the flash mob:
"On Saturday June 4, 2011, at approximately 8:26 p.m., a male not
affiliated with Northwestern was the victim of an attempted robbery.
The victim had parked his motor scooter on the north side of Chicago
Avenue across from Wieboldt Hall (300 block) when approximately 15 to
20 male African Americans, all approximately 16 to 20 years old,
approached him. One of the subjects threw a baseball at the victim's
face and knocked him to the ground. Several others from the group
punched and hit him several times. The victim tried to protect himself
and fought back. The subjects eventually fled eastbound toward the
lake. Chicago Police and Northwestern University Police responded, and
Chicago Police later arrested three members believed to be part of the
group on mob action charges. The victim was treated on the scene by
Chicago Fire Department paramedics. No proceeds were taken from the
victim.The victim could not provide descriptions of the multiple
subjects involved.
"University Police remind all community members to use caution when
traveling, especially at night. Report suspicious activities
immediately to the University Police or Chicago Police by dialing 911
or by utilizing a Blue Light Emergency Telephone. You can also contact
the Northwestern University Police Department by dialing (312)
503-3456. Contact the Chicago Police Department if you have any
information that might assist in this investigation."
CB
Fair Use Notice:
This material is made available in an effort to advance understanding
of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy,
scientific, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a 'fair
use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107
of the US Copyright Law.
For more information go to:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
Kevin O'Neil on 06.06.11
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/cta-tattler/2011/06/flash-mobs-ride-cta-to-commit-crimes-mayhem-on-north-side.html
Chicago police and Streeterville universities are warning residents
and passers-by to be aware of traveling mobs of teenagers who use the
CTA and cell phones to meet up in the Near North Side area and commit
crimes ranging from assaults to shoplifting and general mayhem.
Police arrested seven young men in their mid-to-late teen Saturday
night on "mob action" charges after about two dozen men attacked a
person parking his scooter in the 300 block of E. Chicago Avenue
across from Northwestern University's Wieboldt Hall, according to a
Tribune news report.
Other flash mob incidents this year include:
A group of 70 youths storming a McDonald's at Chicago and State and
creating a disturbance that forced the restaurant to close for three
hours.
"Flash mob offenders" exiting the Chicago/State Red Line station and
shoplifting at area stores. This behavior prompted Loyola University
to warn students and staff at its Water Tower campus.
From the Tribune report:
In mid-May, Chicago police said they were implementing strategies to
address mob action incidents and flash mobs -- which are often
coordinated through cell phone texting or social networking Web sites
-- in the downtown areas. Police, however, have stressed that this
phenomenon, involving large groups of teens, "is not unique to
Chicago."
How comforting.
And thanks to Lyletta, a friend who tipped me off to this story. She
shared her own experiences in a note to me:
When I'm going north (from the South Side) on the Red Line on the
weekend I've seen kids who clearly have never been that far north
heavily rely on directions from their phones or from texts that they
receive. If you have a reliable contact with CTA or CPD that I can
text when I see something let me know.
The CTA has told me they are not the police, and cannot accept text
messages from riders about criminal activities. And I agree. Police
must handle crime problems, but when you're just a few feet away from
an offender witnessing a crime in progress, it's just too dangerous to
whip out your phone and call 911.
Chicago Police *do* have a TXT2TIP program "so that YOU can
anonymously and SAFELY help rid your community of crime by sending
information to the Chicago Police Department via a text message from
your cellular phone."
However, the police website warns: "If you see a crime in progress or
need to report an emergency, please call 911." So, forget that option
on a CTA train crawling with knuckleheads.
Here's the full text of an alert issued by Northwestern University
after the Saturday night attack by the flash mob:
"On Saturday June 4, 2011, at approximately 8:26 p.m., a male not
affiliated with Northwestern was the victim of an attempted robbery.
The victim had parked his motor scooter on the north side of Chicago
Avenue across from Wieboldt Hall (300 block) when approximately 15 to
20 male African Americans, all approximately 16 to 20 years old,
approached him. One of the subjects threw a baseball at the victim's
face and knocked him to the ground. Several others from the group
punched and hit him several times. The victim tried to protect himself
and fought back. The subjects eventually fled eastbound toward the
lake. Chicago Police and Northwestern University Police responded, and
Chicago Police later arrested three members believed to be part of the
group on mob action charges. The victim was treated on the scene by
Chicago Fire Department paramedics. No proceeds were taken from the
victim.The victim could not provide descriptions of the multiple
subjects involved.
"University Police remind all community members to use caution when
traveling, especially at night. Report suspicious activities
immediately to the University Police or Chicago Police by dialing 911
or by utilizing a Blue Light Emergency Telephone. You can also contact
the Northwestern University Police Department by dialing (312)
503-3456. Contact the Chicago Police Department if you have any
information that might assist in this investigation."
CB
Fair Use Notice:
This material is made available in an effort to advance understanding
of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy,
scientific, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a 'fair
use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107
of the US Copyright Law.
For more information go to:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml