Two women were tied up as men ransacked their homes in separate incidents on Chicago’s North Side.
The Chicago Tribune reports the most recent break-in happened in the 3700 block of North Oconto.
A 67-year-old woman was struck in the face when two men entered her home Monday night in the Belmont Heights neighborhood. She was held captive for nearly two hours.
They tied her up with household objects and stole jewelry and other items.
Eddie Stare called 911 after his 67-year-old neighbor ran to him for help.
“She said ‘Eddie, Eddie, they, they, I got robbed, I just got robbed!” Stare said, quoting the victim.
“And I thought she had come home from being out because she goes out a lot, she has friends she visits with. And I thought she came home and found the house ransacked and that’s when I started to go over there,’’ Stare said.
“She said they tied me up and they beat me,’’ Stare said.
Stare, alarmed, asked her if the intruders were still there but she told him they left. Stare called 911.
“I called police, they responded, tactical units, uniformed officers, they came in and talked to her, they got a Polish interpreter from the 17th District to come and speak with her. That was helpful,’’ Stare said.
“She speaks English fairly well but being nervous and everything, she couldn’t get the words she needed to explain herself,” Stare said.
Stare said though she was “shaken up” her injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.
“She had probably not a broken nose but they hit her in the face when she tried to get away, I guess they hit her with a gun on the bridge of the nose,’’ Stare said.
”It was cut and her eyes were swollen, she had some bruising and what not. But other than that she seemed pretty good. She‘s strong, she’s a tough lady, she shovels my snow for me. Very independent, lives alone, just a very nice lady and it’s very upsetting when things like this happen to nice people,” Stare said.
The woman suffered bruises to her face but refused medical treatment.
A similar home invasion happened Friday night in the 5200 Block of North Mobile in the Jefferson park neighborhood.
A 40-year-old woman heard a knock at her door around 11:30 p.m. When she opened the door, assuming it was her husband; two men forced their way inside.
It’s unclear if the two incidents are linked. In each case the suspect stole jewelry electronics and cash. The home invasions happened only three miles apart.
There is no description of the suspects.
No arrests have been made.
