13-Year-Old Accused of Stealing Vehicle With 2 Young Children Inside in Humboldt Park

Matt Masterson | July 21, 2022, 9:22 am

A file photo shows a crime scene blocked off by the Chicago Police Department. (WTTW News)

A 13-year-old boy is accused of stealing a woman’s car in Humboldt Park and driving off with her two young children inside before crashing Wednesday afternoon.

Chicago police said the teen has been arrested and charged with one count each of vehicular hijacking and aggravated battery. The boy’s name has not been released because he is a juvenile.

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According to police, a 26-year-old food delivery driver exited her vehicle around 4:30 p.m. in the 600 block of North Christiana Avenue. As she did so, the boy allegedly got into the car and drove off, striking the victim with the vehicle as he fled.

In the backseat of that vehicle, police said, were the woman’s 4-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son. The teen quickly exited the vehicle while it was still moving and attempted to flee on foot, while the vehicle itself continued over a curb and struck a fence nearby.

Police said the teen was arrested a short time later. No one was injured during the incident.

There have been more than 1,000 vehicular hijackings thus far in 2022, according to city data, an increase of 7.3% over the same time last year.

Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431