Homewood officials announced on Monday afternoon that a business curfew implemented Sunday afternoon along the Halsted Street corridor will continue on Tuesday as a precaution.
Homewood Mayor Richard Hofeld said reports of unrest in the area prompted the move on Sunday.
Homewood officials announced on Monday afternoon that a business curfew implemented Sunday afternoon along the Halsted Street corridor will continue on Tuesday as a precaution.
Homewood Mayor Richard Hofeld said reports of unrest in the area prompted the move on Sunday. He confirmed with the mayor of Country Club Hills that the Walmart there had been broken into.
Media reports noted crowds of several hundred people looted River Oaks Mall in Calumet City.
Local officials are taking the potential for trouble seriously as Chicago has experienced escalating violence in recent days, with 699 people arrested on Sunday, according to Police Superintendent David Brown.
The violence has coincided with protests over the killing of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police on May 25.
Homewood has so far seen only one incident, a break-in at the Speedway gas station on the southwest corner of Ridge Road and Halsted Street. Homewood police said the incident occurred shortly before 5 p.m. on Sunday.
No one was hurt in the incident and no one has been apprehended so far, police said. Cigarettes and a cash register were taken. The cash register was later recovered.
The curfew initially applied to all businesses in the village, but Hofeld said the curfew continued on Halsted Street because it is “a target of opportunity.” The commercial corridor is adjacent to Interstate 80/294.
He said the curfew was lifted Monday on businesses elsewhere in the village because Police Chief Bill Alcott concluded there was adequate protection available.
A number of area communities have implemented curfews for businesses and residents, including Park Forest, Matteson, Markham, Calumet City, Country Club Hills, Hazel Crest, Tinley Park and Richton Park, according to the Chicago Tribune. All are from 9 p.m to 6 a.m. except Tinley Park, which is 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., and Markham, which is 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Chicago Heights Mayor David Gonzalez also issued a curfew notice starting tonight at 9 p.m. and ending at 5 a.m. Tuesday.
Homewood’s curfew does not apply to residents, although Alcott has recommended that residents stay home, as has Flossmoor Police Chief Tod Kamleiter.
Hofeld commended village departments for their teamwork in implementing the emergency plan.
“It was a cohesive effort,” he said. “Police, fire, public works. It was a prime example of working together.”
Flossmoor officials announced that Mejier store closed early on Monday and other stores might close as well.
“There is no immediate danger. These are precautionary measures to ensure the safety of our community members,” officials said in a social media post.