Midlothian Woman Upset With Police After Sister Becomes Latest Mugging Victim
MIDLOTHIAN, Ill. (CBS) -- A violent attacker in the south suburbs has struck again. A fourth woman has been mugged in south suburban Midlothian, by a masked man who has blindsided women walking home late at night.
CBS 2's Dave Savini reports the mugger goes for women's purses, and beats them up in the process.
After four similar attacks in less than three weeks, some residents have grown frustrated with police.
Karen Kozak said she wants police to do more to protect women like her sister, who was attacked while walking home from the Metra Rock Island station after her night shift, around 12:30 a.m. Sunday.
"Her face is all scraped up, because it was bleeding with whatever he hit her with," Kozak said. "There was nobody around to help my sister last night"
Her sister was the fourth woman attacked and robbed in Midlothian since July 20; all in the same area, around the same time – just after midnight.
The mugger's first victim, who asked to remain anonymous, said he was wearing a mask when he broke her nose, but she knows it could have been worse. She had a 7-month-old baby with her at the time, but the baby was not harmed.
"He started hitting me in my face and in my head; over and over and over," she said. "It's scary, and it's frustrating, and … I mean this is my home, and we don't feel safe here. I have a daughter to protect."
The latest victim was concerned after learning about the three earlier attacks, so she tried to call a cab when she got off the train, but a cab never came, so she decided to walk home anyway. She made it to within about a block and a half of her house when the attacker struck, knocking her to the ground and stealing her purse.
"I've been here 25 years, and have never seen this type of thing before," Midlothian Police Chief Harold Kaufman said on Friday.
Kaufman said he's stepped patrols in light of the attacks, but Kozak said that wasn't enough.
"Where were they last night at 12:30? If this is happening at 12:30 at night, why aren't they out then?" Kozak said.
Police have not been able to come up with a sketch or detailed description of the suspect, as none of the victims has seen his face, but it is believed he might live nearby, because he gets away quick.
The suspect is believed to be a White male, about 5'9" to 5'11".
Kaufman previously said his detectives have been working overtime, but he would not discuss the latest attack.
