As of press time, authorities were still searching for two Austin teenagers who were reported missing in separate incidents early last week.
Iris McCaskill, 16, went missing Wed., May 27 near the area of Long and Chicago Avenues. She is an African American girl at 5-feet, 4-inches, 130 pounds with brown eyes, black hair and a medium complexion.
Rose Surney, 14, was reported missing Sun., May 24, near the area of Central and North Avenues. Surney is also an African American girl at 5-feet, 1-inch, 140 pounds with brown eyes, black hair and a dark complexion.
Anyone with information on these two missing teenagers should call detectives at 312-744-8200.
Attempted child luring
On Wednesday around 7 a.m., a black male wearing a plastic black covered mask attempted to lure a female juvenile into his vehicle while she walked to school, according to police reports.
The girl was walking on the 800 block of North Lamon Avenue when the man pulled up in a white SUV and attempted to block her path with his vehicle as she crossed the street.
He got out of the SUV and told the juvenile girl to come to the SUV. She then ran and was followed for two blocks by the vehicle, which is when she saw the SUV turn away and drive down an alley.
Anyone with information about this incident should call Area North Bureau of Detectives at 312-744-8200. Anonymous tips can be sent to Tipsoft.com.
Robberies, vehicular hijackings on the rise
For the month of May, Austin has seen an increase in robberies and vehicular hijackings, Chicago police report. In these cases, unknown male black offenders wait for victims to exit their vehicle. The offenders then approach and demand the victim’s car keys and drive off in their vehicle.
One of these incidents happened at 6:50 a.m., May 9 at the 5100 block of West Huron Street and another happened at 11:36 p.m, May 22 at the 5100 block of West Ohio Street.
The offender in the Huron Street incident is described as an unknown African American male, 30 to 40 years old, 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-11, 200 pounds and a dark complexion. Offenders in the Ohio Street incident were described as unknown males.
Anyone with information on theses incidents should call the Area North Bureau of Detectives at 312-744-8200.
Food delivery trucks, drivers robbed at gunpoint
Chicago Police are investigating three separate armed robberies of food delivery trucks in Austin. In both instances, the suspects were armed with handguns and stole food from the trucks, in addition to cash and cellphones from the drivers.
The robberies took place on the 1000 block of North Leamington at 12:12 a.m. on May 6; and on the 4900 block of West Rice Street at 9:25 a.m. on May 14; and on the 700 block of North Latrobe at 2:12 a.m. on May 14.
Police are asking anyone with information to call detectives at (312) 744-8263.
Michael Romain contributed to this article.
CONTACT: nicholas.samuel@loop.colum.edu
