A ‘ridiculous’ incident occurred in which reporters from a broadcasting station in Chicago were robbed by armed assailants while going to the scene to report on the rapid increase in armed robbery.
According to the Chicago Press and the Washington Post on the 29th, two reporters from the Chicago local TV news ‘Univision Chicago’ were preparing for a broadcast at 5:00 am in the West Wicker Park district of Chicago, where recent armed robberies occurred.
The police said, “When the reporters, consisting of one reporter and one cameraman, were filming a report on the scene, a black SUV and a gray car approached and stopped.” he said.
After pointing guns at the reporters and demanding money, they took the cameras set up for filming, two bags containing broadcasting equipment, and the photographer’s personal bag, took their belongings, and got back in the car and fled.
Spanish-language broadcaster Univision Chicago confirmed that the two men involved in the robbery belonged to the company, a 28-year-old man and a 42-year-old man.
The police said on the 29th, one day after the incident, that they are still investigating the case and that the suspect has not been caught.
The incident occurred while police were investigating a series of at least eight armed robberies and vehicle thefts between the night of the 27th and the morning of the 28th in the Wicker Park district, about 8km west of downtown Chicago.
The police explained that the connection between these cases was not revealed, but that each of the two to four people who were hiding and attacked the victim was similar.
Citing Chicago police data, the Washington Post said, “Chicago’s homicide rate has decreased by 8% compared to the same period last year, and the number of shootings has decreased by 11% compared to August last year.”
He added, “The number of reported car thefts totalled 19,500, a 99% increase compared to last August.”
The Chicago Sun-Times said, “It’s already the second case in the past three weeks that a Chicago TV production crew was robbed while covering.” said it did.
The Chicago chapter of the National Union of Broadcasters (NABET) said, “Broadcasters and union officials are considering additional measures to enhance security for on-site production crews.”