Skokie Police Arrest 2 in Mini-Crime Spree

 Two teenagers are facing charges in a mini-crime spree that involved a failed vehicle theft at Old Orchard Mall, an assault and a stoppage of train service on the Skokie Swift line, a police official said.

Squad cars were dispatched from the Skokie police station about 3:30 p.m. Thursday after police scanners broadcast that two black teens were on the run near the CTA train station.

Police said the crime spree started at the mall when a brick was used to shatter a car's window as the suspects sought either to steal items inside or steal the vehicle. Chatter on the scanner said the teens also assaulted a woman who had her Louis Vuitton purse taken.

During a foot chase with officers, the teenage suspects ditched the handbag near 5050 W. Dempster St., where it was later recovered. Authorities also decided to briefly stop the Yellow Line service at Skokie as a precaution.

Both teens, who have not been identified, were evenutally arrested near Carol and Bronx, an intersection close to the train stop, and service was resumed.

A resident said she saw officers arrest one teen near her townhome by Carol and Bronx. The woman, who wished to be identified as Gail, said she was standing outside when she heard yelling and screaming.

"I saw this guy running in a red shirt and the officers were yelling, 'Get down on the ground now!' " she said. "One of the officers ran three quarters of a mile after the other kid. I think they got him."

"I heard that they were breaking into cars and taking things." she added.

Gail said the officers were very friendly to the suspects and at one point offered them water because of the humid weather.

"I wouldn't stand for police brutality," she said. "There was none of that here. The officers couldn't have been nicer."

Stay tuned for more updates on Skokie Patch