CHICAGO — Chicago police say a suspect is in custody following an attempted child abduction and a carjacking Thursday on the city’s Northwest Side.
Scanner traffic indicated that officers were called to Bucktown shortly after 4 p.m. for a report of an attempted child kidnapping.
“Attempted kidnapping of a child. 2400 North Damen; Damen and Fullerton,” an officer said over the radio. “The child is safe and OK, but the offender, who was in a white box truck, then fled…”
The incident unfolded near a heavily traveled intersection, leaving nearby workers stunned that it happened in the middle of the afternoon.
“It’s completely disturbing to think that something like that happened,” said Edwin Campos, who works in the area.
Campos and his colleague, Karima Manouzi, said they were working nearby but did not realize an emergency was unfolding.
“We didn’t hear anything, and that’s the most frightening part. We were all right here,” Manouzi said.
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Police said the suspect then went to a nearby carwash, where he allegedly carjacked a woman after leaving the white van.
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“It appears he entered the front seat while she was vacuuming the backseat,” an officer said in scanner audio.
The child and the carjacking victim were not injured. Even so, the events have raised concerns among people who live and work nearby.
“It’s unsettling to know that you can be out in the middle of the day, simply running errands or taking care of everyday tasks, and something like this can happen,” said Bucktown resident Emily Varjan.
Varjan and her roommate, Kelly Burns, said they have visited the carwash in the past. Burns, who was the victim of a separate carjacking years ago, said the experience has made her more cautious.
“I didn’t have my phone with me, so I would advise people to keep whatever they can on their person. Carry pepper spray if possible,” Burns said.
In an update issued later Thursday, Chicago police said a person had been taken into custody. No charges had been filed at that time.
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