Oak Park: 2 armed robberies, 1 case of self defense

June 27, 5:18 PMChicago Crime ExaminerEric Puryear

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Over the last week, there were two armed robberies in Oak Park, and a third robbery attempt that ended when the victim successfully defended himself against two gunmen.

• A resident of the 200 block of North Austin was entering his apartment building at around 2:30 p.m. on June 21, when a man followed, spun him around and forced him into a corner. Holding a box cutter to the man’s neck, the robber took his cell phone and $5 cash, then order the victim to go to his residence and get more cash.  The victim explained that he had no more money, at which point the robber told him to go, and then fled.
• Just after 5 p.m. that same afternoon, a woman getting out of her car in her garage on the 1150 block of S. Lyman was attacked by a man who pointed a silver handgun at her and demanded her money. The robber fled after the woman handed over her wallet, containing $70 cash.
• An Oak Park man defended himself against two robbers by pulling out his pocket knife. The man was parking his motorcycle about 10:25 p.m. June 17 in a garage in the 1200 block of North Austin Boulevard when he was approached by two men, one of whom indicated that he had a gun. After the motorcyclist pulled the knife, the men fled.  No one was injured.

As these robberies, and the many dozen other robberies make clear, Oak Park's handgun ban isn't working to disarm criminals.  This shouldn't be too surprising, since a person willing to commit a serious felony such as armed robbery isn't going to worry about a relatively minor gun possession charge.  While I don't claim to have all the answer to Oak Park's crime problems, I can say with much confidence that the handgun ban just isn't a solution.