Car owners are encouraged to be vigilant after a string of thefts in the Chicago area over the last several days.
In the past few days, at least five different people have had their cars stolen in the Chicago area after they briefly left them running and unattended.
For one man, a quick trip to the gas station turned into a nightmare, as the car he left running with two children inside was stolen just after midnight on Sunday morning.
The man ran inside the gas station in the 8700 block of South Cottage Grove to grab a bottle of water. Seconds later, security footage showed a car pull up alongside the vehicle, and after a man briefly observed the situation, he hopped into the driver’s seat and took off.
Fortunately, the car was found just a few blocks away, with the twin babies safely in the backseat.
Not everyone was so fortunate, as Evelyn Romo was injured when her car was stolen on Friday.
Romo says she left her car running outside of her home when her daughter told her that it had disappeared. Using OnStar, Romo tracked down her vehicle, and confronted the thieves.
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While confronting the individuals, Romo’s foot was caught underneath the tire of the car, injuring her.
“I won’t recover for three weeks at least,” she said. “No matter how cold it is, just wait in your car.”
A 15-year-old girl was arrested after she was found riding in Romo’s car, but no arrest has been made of the driver who took it.
The other car thefts, including the theft of the car with the twin babies inside, are all still being investigated as well.
