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**Fear Stalks Chicago as Brazen Robberies Escalate: A Father’s Terrifying Ordeal**

Chicago citizens remain on high alert as crime rates continue to soar, with criminals shamelessly targeting victims in broad daylight. With innocent families being caught up in these terrifying situations, how can safety be ensured? In this report, we look at the unsettling case of a local man robbed at gunpoint, one of almost 50 recent heists by suspected armed bandits.

In an alarming incident, Victor Galena Sr., a loving father from Chicago’s predominantly Hispanic Hermosa neighborhood, was robbed at gunpoint on his front porch as he attempted to leave for work in the early morning hours. With his children nearby, this chilling encounter is sadly part of a larger trend of intimidation and crime in the city.

Galena and two other men were held up by several individuals wearing black ski masks in a terrifying ordeal that has left the family shaken. As the gun-toting criminals attempted to enter his home where more of his family slept, Galena Sr. made the brave decision to fight back. “He says he doesn’t feel like a hero. It was just mostly like a father’s instinct that kicked in,” explained Galena Jr., describing his father’s actions.

The thieves managed to escape with the money Galena Sr. and his companions had intended to spend on construction tools. Local law enforcement believes that these criminals may be responsible for over 48 armed robberies and carjackings on Chicago’s West and Northwest sides since late April. The suspects, who have not yet been caught, specifically target residents during early morning hours as they leave their homes for work.

This disturbing trend of crime reflects a wider problem in Chicago, where violent crimes have increased significantly over the past year. The Chicago Police Department reported that last year robberies rose by 16%, theft increased 17%, and motor vehicle thefts skyrocketed by an alarming 133%.

**Determined To Protect Their Homes: A Family’s Fight Against A Dangerous Crime Wave**

As families like the Galenas face terrifying encounters and struggle to protect their loved ones, the authorities must do all they can to bring these criminals to justice. The increasing threat of daytime home invasions highlights these incidents cannot be allowed to continue. Greater efforts must be made to quell the violence, identify the culprits, and guarantee the safety of hard-working families in Chicago.

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