CHICAGO, IL - MAY 17: Anti-war protestors organized by CODEPINK march through the loop May 17, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. This was the fourth day of protests in what is expected to be a full week of demonstrations as the city prepares to host the NATO Summit May 20-21. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is hosting its 25th summit in Chicago, on May 20-21, 2012. The leaders for the NATO member countries are scheduled to attend the two-day event and have already begun to arrive, but you will really begin to feel the pain of potential traffic problems Saturday, May 19th through 6 pm Monday, May 21st.

Planning for the worst should include studying the road closures, parking restrictions and other security and transportation plans, that the Chicago Police Department and Public Safety Agencies have published.

If you choose to go into the city for work or to be part of this historic event be aware that unannounced street and expressway closings, security sweeps of CTA and Metra trains along with detours of CTA buses will make getting around a major challenge so be patient.

Be aware that even though you may be patient there will be a lot of people out there who will not. Some drivers may take dangerous chances to get around stalled traffic. Expect the worst and stay alert.

Keep in mind that the intermittent expressway closings will make getting to neighborhoods outside of downtown more difficult, and travel in and around nearby suburbs could also be severely affected.

There are some positive aspects to NATO coming to town. Read more.

Crime Scene Photo credit: by alan cleaver_2000 via creative commons

The man, who shot and wounded his girlfriend’s ex-husband after he broke into her home on Chicago’s Southside, was released without charges yesterday.

CBS Chicago news reported that the boyfriend was initially taken into custody, but he was released without being charged, police News Affairs Officer Michael Sullivan.

According to Chicago Police Department spokesman officer Daniel O’Brien, the 49-year-old ex-husband arrived at the woman’s home in the 10300 block of South Emerald Avenue around 4:30 a.m. Monday. He first banged at the door, but then kicked it down and forced his way in.

Think about that for a moment. You are staying with your girlfriend when you wake up to the sound of someone banging on the door at 4:00 in the morning.

What do you do now? Click here to learn more.

Armed home Invasion by leasepics

We can now add another shooting to the list of over a dozen gun crimes that have been reported in Chicago and surrounding suburbs over the last five days.

Two men were shot and seriously wounded while sitting in a tow-truck at a gas station in the Lakeview neighborhood early this morning.

The Tribune reported that the men, tow truck drivers for separate firms, were sitting in the front seat of a truck in the 3600 block of North Ashland Avenue about 3:40 a.m. when a gunman approached and “fired several rounds into the truck,’’ said Town Hall District Police Lt. Jeffrey Hoffmann.

What can you do to protect yourself and your family from becoming a violent crime statistic? Read more here.

Police issued an attempted child abduction alert for Roseland Community by Zol87 creative commons

Chicago Police issued an alert Monday warning Roseland residents of an attempted child abduction that took place in the neighborhood last week.

Police reported that around 9:00 last Wednesday morning an 11-year-old girl was followed by a white male driving a black car while she was on her way to school in the 10400 block of State Street.

The offender attempted to lure the girl into the car by offering her money and a cell phone. The girl refused and the man drove off as a teacher approached. Police reported the offender is a white male about 40 years of age, with dark eyes, black hair. He was wearing a white shirt at the time and driving a black 4-door vehicle.

A similar warning was issued by police on April 19th for the Rogers Park neighborhood when 4 children ages 4 – 12 were approached by two male Hispanics while on their way to school walking in the 2100 block of West Jarvis.

The two men told them to “Get in the car or I’m going to get you in!” The driver had a Spanish accent but the passenger did not. The offenders fled south on Ridge when they spotted a Chicago Police patrol car in the area. The children were not hurt.

What can you do to protect your child from being abducted? Read more.

Search Resumes For 6-Year-Old Boy That Went Missing In 1979

We tend to focus on the unresolved cases of missing children that we see in the news such as, New York’s Etan Patz and Arizona’s Isabel Mercedes Celis, but it gives us hope to know that 99 percent are being returned to their homes.

Why are more children being returned home alive than ever before? Click here to learn more.

Michigan Avenue Water Tower by pasa47 via creative commons

The economy must be pretty bad in Ohio if strong-arm thugs need to come to Chicago to mug people?

Allen McCrone, 26, of the first block of Boxwood Court in Springdale, Ohio, found himself in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood this past weekend waiting for the right victim to come along.

He thought he found a good target, a California tourist carrying an expensive looking camera walking along Chicago’s Mag Mile. He probably figured that this was going to be easy pickings. Wrong!

Click here to read more.

Armed home Invasion by leasepics via creative commons

His family said he had more lives than a cat, having survived being shot ten times, but Daryl Turner’s luck ran out earlier this week when he attempted to force his way into a home in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood.

According to authorities Daryl Turner approached the unidentified 24-year old homeowner early Monday morning looking for drugs. The homeowner turned him away, but he returned moments later armed with a gun and attempted to gain entry to the home.

When Turner tried to force his way into the man’s home the man retrieved his own handgun and opened fire on the intruder.

Continue reading.

Admon Shasho, 27, is charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault and attempted robbery. Photo credit: Chicago Police Department photo

It was close to 4:00 am Sunday morning when the alleged assailant began sizing up his victim. She was walking alone on Lincoln avenue in the Lincoln Square area of Chicago, listening to her i-Pod when the cab driver began stalking her.

The Chicago Tribune reported that when she turned near Sunnyside Avenue, he parked the cab and followed her to an alley in the 4500 block of Oakley Avenue where he grabbed her from behind. He told her not to scream or he would kill her. He held his hand over her mouth and attempted to steal her purse and cell phone.

She began screaming when he pulled her to the ground, removed her clothing and sexually assaulted her, prosecutors said.

This is where the Good Samaritan, Ron Psenka came to her rescue. Mr. Penska’s wife heard the victim’s screams. She woke up her husband and told him she thought a woman was being assaulted in the alley.

His wife called 911 and he sprang into action.
More here.

Home Burglaries on the rise

You and your family are on the road to Michigan for the weekend when you realize you have forgotten something and head back home. When you arrive home you find the door open and as step into the house you hear noises.

What do you do now? Click here to read more.

Oakland Police Continue To Examine The Scene Of Deadly Shooting That Killed Seven

Last Monday morning a former nursing student of Oikos University walked into the school and shot ten people killing seven and wounding three.

Witnesses said the gunman entered a reception area of the college at mid-morning and opened fire before walking into one of two classes in session and spraying the room with bullets.

Paul Singh, whose sister was one of three wounded, told Reuters that the shooter instructed students: “Get in line and I’m going to kill you all.”

Many of the students looked at him and thought he was kidding. He started shooting moments later.

The shooter, 43-year-old One Goh of Oakland, a Korean native and naturalized U.S. citizen had already shot 9 students and one school employee. The employee and six students died from their wounds.

Authorities said most of those killed and wounded had been in a classroom near the school’s entrance, while one was shot in an administrative office.

You are taking class in another room when you hear what sounds like gunshots nearby. What do you do now? Read more.