2 carjackings reported overnight in Evanston

Police are investigating two carjackings reported just over three hours apart from Thursday night to early Friday.

A 39-year-old woman was sitting in her black Mazda CX-9 about 9 p.m. in the 1200 block of Fowler Avenue when two males approached her and one of them pulled out a handgun, according to a statement from Evanston police. They took her vehicle and her wallet and drove off westbound on Dempster Street.

About 12:08 a.m. Friday, a 36-year-old woman had just parked her gray Acura in the 1700 block of Washington Street when two males walked up to her, police said. One of them brandished a handgun and demanded her keys and purse. The suspects then drove away in the Acura.

Neither of the victims was injured, according to police.

Officers later spotted the Mazda from the first carjacking eastbound on Harvard Terrace from Barton Avenue, with the Acura from the second incident following it, police said. They continued eastbound when officers attempted to pull them over and eventually split up at Ridge Avenue, with the Mazda continuing eastbound while the Acura turned south.

Officers pursued both vehicles, according to police. The Mazda eventually crashed into the security gate of a home in the 200 block of Custer Avenue and the driver got out and ran away on foot. A loaded .38-caliber handgun was found inside the Mazda.

The Acura proceeded into Chicago, and patrol supervisors called off the pursuit soon after, police said. It was later found parked and unoccupied in the 1500 block of Jonquil Terrace. Both vehicles were towed to the Evanston Police Department for evidence processing.

Anyone with information about the carjackings is asked to call the Evanston Police Detective Division at (847) 866-5040 or text a tip to 274637 with “EDTIP” at the beginning of the message.