29 Mar 16 Blue Line Pick Pockets – 1st District (P16-1-029CA)

This alert gives notice to  those who use the CTA trains in the 1st District of Theft/Pocket Picking incidents that have been reported on the Blue Line trains proceeding southbound towards the Downtown Area from O’Hare Airport. In general, the offenders in these crimes usually work in groups of two or three to steal items from unsuspecting victims. After the offenders observe a prospective victim, one will typically create a distraction allowing another offender to bump into the victim and steal the victim’s personal property.  One such incident occurred at approx. 8 pm on March 23, 2016.

After a Blue Line train stopped at Washington Street, one offender exited the train in front of a 59 year old male victim and then acted as if his foot had gotten stuck between the train doors and the platform. Believing the offender to be in need of assistance, the victim attempted to help him, at which point another offender bumped into the victim, taking his wallet which contained various IDs and credit cards. The victim later discovered that his stolen credit cards had been used to purchase fare cards at a CTA Ventra Machine. The above pictured individuals are being sought in connection to this crime.