A 34-year-old Chicago man was arrested for taking a vehicle Wednesday around 3:15 p.m. at the intersection of Asbury Avenue and South Boulevard for auto theft.

Earlier Wednesday, a Salvation Army van was reported missing from the 1400 block of Sherman Avenue. An Evanston firefighter heard the report over the police radio and saw the vehicle driving toward Chicago, Evanston Police Communications Coordinator Perry Polinski said.

Police followed the van and notified Chicago police, who followed the vehicle when it entered Chicago. They attempted to pull him over, but the man fled back to Evanston.

The van then collided with another vehicle at Asbury Avenue and Seward Street. The suspect fled on foot before being stopped and arrested by the police.

He and one of the passengers from the other vehicle were brought to AMITA Health Saint Francis Hospital for minor injuries.

The man was additionally charged with traffic violations and other related charges.

Apartment ransacked, nothing taken

An Evanston woman found her apartment ransacked between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The door to the vestibule was pried open before the suspects kicked the door into the Ashland Avenue apartment open.

The resident reported nothing missing. Security footage has identified two male suspects, both wearing hoodies and jeans.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @mollyfburke