Man charged after 2 chain snatchings near Navy Pier on Wednesday afternoon, but the thefts are still happening (2024)

Man charged after 2 chain snatchings near Navy Pier on Wednesday afternoon, but the thefts are still happening (1)

CHICAGO — Cops have arrested another man in connection with a string of necklace-snatching robberies that have occurred downtown over the past three weeks. But the thefts continue, with yet another incident reported Thursday afternoon.

On Wednesday afternoon, two women were targeted in separate jewelry snatchings outside a lakefront cafe near Navy Pier. A Chicago police spokesperson said both robberies were reported in the 500 block of East Grand, one around 2:36 p.m. and the other between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

In one case, a 32-year-old woman told police she was outside when two men “approached and grabbed her personal belongings,” according to the spokesperson. The men fled with her property, which we have been told was a necklace.

The other woman, listed in a police report as 23 or 24 years old, told police that she was outside when a man took property that she had sitting next to her. Exactly what was taken is not clear.

Witnesses reported that the men fled the scene on Divvy bikes.

Police arrested one suspect, 18-year-old Alex Latacunga, in connection with one of yesterday’s incidents. He was released from police custody after being charged with misdemeanor theft, the police spokesperson said.

On Thursday, another woman was targeted by a necklace-snatcher near Dearborn and Jackson in the Loop. At about 4:15 p.m., a man ripped off her necklace and ran toward Van Buren Street, according to preliminary information. A CPD spokesperson confirmed that police responded to the scene, but the case report was not finalized as of 7 p.m.

An officer who handled the call said the robber was a Black male in his 20s wearing a black puffy coat, black jogging pants, and a white t-shirt.

Previous reporting

Two more chain snatchings were reported Sunday evening, one on the lakefront and another in the Loop.
Shortly after 5 p.m., several people reported seeing two men riding an e-bike along the lakefront trail, with the passenger trying to snatch gold chains from people’s necks. The duo successfully took at least one chain, pulling it from a woman’s neck just north of Armitage on the lakefront bike path, according to preliminary information.

An officer who reviewed CPD surveillance video reported that the thieves escaped by riding the bike across the North Avenue Beach pedestrian bridge. The officer said they were Hispanic men on a black electric bike, with the driver wearing a black hat, a black sweatshirt, and black pants. The passenger wore a black hat, black jacket, and blue jeans. Witnesses said they appeared to be in their 20s.

A similar robbery was reported just after 7 p.m. in the Loop. A Hispanic man in his late teens or early 20s riding a blue Divvy snatched a woman’s chain from her neck near 400 South State. He was last seen heading east on Ida B. Wells.

In earlier incidents:

Just after 5 p.m. Friday, a man snatched the necklace from a woman’s neck near the 100 block of South Clinton and fled the scene. He was described as Black or Indian with a tattoo over one eye. He wore a gray hoodie and black pants and had a black sling bag over his chest.

On Thursday evening, a woman was mugged near the Shedd Aquarium by a man who used the same technique. He escaped on a bike. An officer who responded to the scene said the robber was a Black man in his mid-20s, standing 5’8″ to 5’10” tall and wearing black clothing.

On Saturday morning, September 21, policearrested Anthony Laya-Alvaradoafter a woman’s necklace was snatched in the 900 block of West Weed. Prosecutors said Laya-Alvarado and an accomplice escaped on a motorized bike and ran away when police moved in. Cops caught Laya-Alvarado, but the other guy got away.

Earlier cases involving a two-man team were reported:

  • near State and Jackson around 3:22 p.m. on September 9
  • at Illinois and Peshtigo around noon on September 11
  • on the Lakefront Trail near Armitage around 2:30 p.m. on September 11
  • on the Lakefront Trail near Grand around 3 p.m. on September 11
  • near Lake Street and North Riverside around 4 p.m. on September 11
  • in the 300 block of South Financial around 10:42 a.m. on September 12
  • near Wells and Adams around 7:40 p.m. on September 13
  • near Kinzie and Canal around 10:15 p.m. on September 13

Despite the growing number of cases, Chicago police have not issued public warnings about the crime pattern.

Editor’s note: Latacunga’s mugshot was not immediately available because CPD places a four-day embargo on mugshots for misdemeanor charges.

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Man charged after 2 chain snatchings near Navy Pier on Wednesday afternoon, but the thefts are still happening (2024)

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