CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- There were more armed carjackings in the city Tuesday night, and another online Town Hall meeting to talk about what can be done about the increasing problem.
The online Town Hall was put on by 43rd Ward Alderwoman Michelle Smith and 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney, but they made it clear carjackings know no ward boundaries.
"This carjacking surge is one of these times when we all need to work together to combat a relatively new and frightening crime," Ald. Smith said.
Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said too often people arrested for carjackings wind up being charged with less serious crimes like trespass to vehicles.
"This happens so fast when someone runs up to you and they have a hoodie on and a mask and they stick a gun in your face and take your car in less than five seconds. Very difficult for victims to make an identification," he said.
On Tuesday night, four 15- to 19-year olds were arrested after allegedly taking a Lexus from a man who was shoveling snow for a parking spot in the 1400 block of North Cleaver in Chicago's Noble Square neighborhood.
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Carjackings also happened in the Lincoln Park/Old Town and Burnside neighborhoods.
In the one incident, a 34-year-old man was walking to his car at about 7:40 p.m. in the 800 block of West Willow Street in when a person armed with a weapon approached him and demanded the car, Chicago police said.
The man complied and the carjacker drove off in his 2018 Range Rover, police said. No injuries were reported.
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Less than two hours earlier, armed carjackers robbed a man of his vehicle and money in Burnside.
He was sitting in his 2006 dark green Jeep Cherokee at about 6 p.m. in the 9300 block of South Avalon Avenue when a a Chevy Equinox pulled alongside, police said.
Two males got out of the car and one of them pointed a gun at the 22-year old, telling him to get out of his car, police said.
The man complied and one of the males took money from the victim’s pocket before telling him to back away from the Jeep, police said.
One of the carjackers drove off in the Jeep and the other got back in the Chevy and fled, police said.
Police said the Jeep was found unoccupied at about 8:15 p.m. in the 9500 block of South Stony Island Avenue.
Area Two detectives are investigating.
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On Monday, federal and local officials held a virtual town hall to address a sharp rise in carjackings in the city. There were 218 carjackings reported in January alone, according to police.