Chicago, IL

West Town catalytic converter theft caught on camera; mechanics seeing uptick in incidents

Published

2 years ago

March 18, 2022

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago mechanics say catalytic converter thefts are on the rise, and one in West City in broad daylight that was caught on digital camera.

In video taken by a neighbor, you may see a pair of legs squirming beneath a half-tilted Toyota Prius. Onlookers stated the obvious thief was splayed beneath the automobile in broad daylight in a West City parking lengthy as he minimize out the catalytic converter. Hours later, nonetheless unaware, the automobile’s proprietor got here out of labor.

“I begin my engine and my engine made the loudest rumbling noise I feel I’ve ever heard,” stated the sufferer Aubin, who solely shared his first identify. “To the purpose the place it scared me.”

After a fast look across the parking house, he seen one thing.

“I began noticing on the bottom round me all forms of scraps of metallic,” he stated. “I lookup beneath the automobile and I might see, like, wires and components hanging down from the automobile. First thought was somebody got here and took the catalytic converter.”

They’d. In broad daylight and in lower than two minutes, a staff of three made off with the expensive automobile half.

“There are three foremost components in a catalytic converter: platinum, palladium and robium. Very useful components,” defined Matt Tefka, proprietor of Fulton-Desplaines Storage. “They’re stealing them, flip them into completely different facilities that may pay for them, they usually transfer on to the subsequent automobile.”

At this level, mechanics say clients roaring in needing replacements for stolen catalytic converters is routine. And it is a pricey repair.

“A median of $1,000 is fairly commonplace. At this level we’re doing two to 3 every week,” he stated.

Final spring, an I-Staff investigation uncovered a pointy rise in such a crime. Information from the Nationwide Insurance coverage Crime Bureau discovered that in 2019 there have been greater than 3,300 catalytic converter thefts throughout the nation, however in 2020 that jumped to greater than 14,000. Illinois ranked fifth within the nation.

And sadly for drivers like Aubin, mechanics say Priuses appear to be prime targets.

“For no matter purpose Prius has a really expense converter in it and that is without doubt one of the few low to the bottom vehicles that these guys are completely going after,” Tefka stated.

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Chicago, IL

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Crew by way of

Wednesday, November 23, 2022 3:26AM

FILE photograph: View of the Chicago Hearth Division, the third largest municipal hearth division in america of America, within the Chinatown neighborhood on Sept. 24, 2014.
Shutterstock

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago hearth officers mentioned two ladies have been discovered lifeless in an Englewood house after a home hearth.

The fireplace broke out Tuesday night at a home within the 7200-block of South Wolcott, Chicago hearth officers mentioned.

The fireplace was struck out at about 9:10 p.m., CFD mentioned.

After the fireplace was out, firefighters discovered two grownup feminine victims lifeless within the wreckage.

It was not instantly clear if the ladies died within the hearth or earlier than the fireplace. No additional particulars have been launched.

The Chicago Hearth Division has not but commented on any potential causes for the fireplace or mentioned in the event that they consider it was suspicious.

Chicago, IL

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

HIGHLAND PARK, Ailing. (WLS) — Three ladies and their households had been good strangers up till the second tragedy introduced them collectively within the aftermath of Highland Park’s July 4th parade.

As Thanksgiving approaches, they’re united in goal and in gratitude for probably the most primary of all issues: life.

“I believed I used to be going to die,” Highland Park capturing survivor Liz Turnipseed mentioned. “That I used to be going to put there and I used to be going to bleed out and I used to be going to die.”

WATCH | Highland Park capturing survivor tells her story

“I used to be on the parade with my three grownup kids, my son-in-law and my 2-year-old grand child,” mentioned Debra Baum, with the Highland Park Gun Violence Mission. “Our complete household may have been worn out.”

“July third I had 70 folks at my home and the following day our life bought flipped the other way up,” capturing survivor Lindsay Hartman mentioned. “So I simply know for me, I am attempting to take pleasure in it and never spend an excessive amount of time previously.”

SEE ALSO | Highland Park parade capturing short-term memorial opens subsequent to metropolis corridor

For Lindsay, not spending an excessive amount of time previously means internet hosting Thanksgiving for 30. Liz, who was one of many almost 50 folks injured that day, nonetheless wants a cane to get round, so she’ll be catering the meal and having her complete household fly in. Debra shall be coming along with the identical household she was with on July 4.

“There are numerous households in Highland Park that do not have folks with them this Thanksgiving due to what occurred,” Baum mentioned. “It is a very weighty realization.”

However there’s additionally gratitude for random issues and other people, like for the proper strangers who took in Liz’s 3-year-old daughter for a few hours after she was shot. And the neighbor she’d by no means met earlier than who lent her a step stool for her mattress.

Turning ache into goal is what unites these ladies now as they foyer for an assault weapons ban in Congress. As a result of whereas life for them won’t ever be the identical, it does transfer on.

Chicago, IL

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Tuesday, November 22, 2022 8:52PM

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Biden administration is but once more extending the pause on federal scholar mortgage funds, a profit that started in March 2020 to assist individuals who have been struggling financially because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a supply conversant in the plan mentioned.

The Division of Training will announce it’s extending the freeze one other six months with the primary funds due two months after June 30, the supply mentioned, until a Supreme Courtroom resolution on the president’s scholar mortgage aid program comes first.

The administration had beforehand mentioned the latest extension could be the final, and funds have been scheduled to restart in January.

However the administration had additionally meant for its scholar mortgage forgiveness program to start canceling as much as $20,000 in debt for low- and middle-income debtors earlier than January. This system has but to be carried out because it faces a number of authorized challenges.

This story is breaking and can be up to date.