Vandalism Among Damage At Oak Park Businesses, Property

OAK PARK, IL — Oak Park police said the Village is working on plans to help business and property owners remove graffiti after several businesses were damaged in weekend street violence, Village officials said in a news release. Oak Park police responded to calls of damage to eight local businesses overnight Sunday to Monday, including a car burglary reported at Judson Baptist Church in the 1200 block of North Austin Boulevard, and dozens of reports of graffiti, the news release said. According to the news release, police reported most of the criminal activity had ended by about 1:30 a.m. Monday, and businesses on North Avenue appear to have been hit the heaviest with vandalism.

Most of the damage reported at businesses was of broken doors and windows, but officials said efforts are still underway to assess the full extent of the damage. The vandalism took place after a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew had been imposed by Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb at about 7 p.m. Sunday via an emergency declaration.

Damaged properties include:

• PCS Metro cell phone store at 6319 North Avenue
• A-1 Pawn Shop at 6151 North Avenue
• PNC Bank at 6621 North Avenue
• Suds 2000 laundry at 6045 North Avenue, where people unsuccessfully tried to steal an ATM.

>> These businesses also sustained damage.

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On Sunday, Village officials had issued a statement in response to the recent death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, which officials said sparked widespread protests across the country. In the statement, the Village denounced and condemned the actions that led to Floyd’s death and pledged to work with the community to take shared steps supporting diversity, equity and inclusion.

A memorial for Floyd had been held Sunday by Village Hall without any reported incidents, according to the news release.