A male offender, who Mount Prospect Police described was involved in a disturbance at Rand Road and Mount Prospect Road, has now been charged with multiple counts of attempted vehicular hijacking and criminal damage to property after a police investigation determined he fled an incident or perceived incident at the Lake Forest Oasis in Lake County, sped south into Glenview, evaded a Glenview police chase, crashed in Mount Prospect, and attempted to hijack five vehicles on Rand Road near Mount Prospect Road after his vehicle was disabled by the crash.
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Christopher Novaczyk is accused of attempting to hijack the vehicles of five motorists in traffic on Rand Road near Mount Prospect Road on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at about 12:45 p.m. while he believed he was still being pursued by Glenview police. Novaczyk is charged with five counts of attempted vehicular hijacking, and at least two counts of criminal damage to property when he damaged at least two vehicles.
Novaczyk allegedly attempted the vehicular hijacking of a 2021 Mercedes (a Class 2 Felony) while the driver was stopped at red light. He attempted to open the driver’s side door while demanding the driver to get out of the car. The light changed, and the victim drove forward, and the offender struck the 2021 Mercedes with the metal object.
Next, Novaczyk allegedly committed Attempted Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking of a Chevy Malibu from a female driver that was 60 years or older (age 77). Class 1 Felony the defendant stood in front of her and then opened the driver’s side door but the victim was able to close the door while driving forward.
Next, the defendant attempt vehicular hijacking of another 2021 Mercedes Benz SUV that was northbound on Rand Road (Class 2 Felony). The driver attempted to maneuver away from the defendant, but he was able to approach her passenger side and failed to open the locked passenger side door. He then struck the passenger side of her front windshield six or seven times. The driver was able to escape by making a U-turn.
The criminal damage to property … breaking the front driver’s side glass is Class 4 Felony.
Next, the defendant positioned himself in front of a Toyota Camry and struck the Toyota Camry windshield while demanding the victim give up the car. The driver called 9-1-1.
Next, the defendant approached a 2017 Toyota Corolla and was able to enter the vehicle, but the driver exited his vehicle and the defendant and victim interacted outside the vehicle. The defendant struck the male victim in the shin or ankle area, but the driver was able to take the defendant to the ground and grab the metal object while the defendant was still clutching the metal object.
Then police arrived.
The defendant told police (post Miranda rights) that he had a confrontation with a minor and left the Lake Forest Oasis on I-94 because he believed the police had been called. He fled that location because he thought he would be pursued by police and didn’t want to go to jail.
Novaczyk told police he was in an agitated state, and consumed half a bottle of vodka and also rum while speeding southbound on I-94.
He said his experience was like the real life version of the Grand Theft Auto video game.
The defendant told police he was southbound on I-94 reaching speeds of over 100 miles per hour
He said he was intoxicated, and took a metal desk leg that was in his car to use as a weapon to make the attempts of vehicular hijacking after his car was crashed and disabled.
Prior to the Mount Prospect incident, Glenview police noticed the erratic driving of the offender, but the driver was able to evade Glenview police. Charges of Reckless Driving and Aggravated Speeding are pending with the Glenview Police Department.
The defendant told police he believed he was fleeing police when he crashed, and then began a search of a vehicle to replace his crashed vehicle
The defendant has a criminal history of a DUI in Wisconsin in 2006.
In Lake County Novaczyk is wanted on a warrant, charged by the Illinois State Police with being a liquor licensee that sold liquor to minor in 2015.
He has a a domestic battery history in Cook County nolle prosequi (charges dropped).
Not mentioned in court, the defendant has a citation history of driving over 31 MPH over the speed limit in Mount Prospect in December 2000.
Novaczyk graduated from Glenbrook South High School, then attended Ferris University, but did not graduate.
Christopher Novaczyk was ordered detained pre-trial. He is also being held for the Lake County, Illinois liquor violation case.
His next court date is August 21, 2026
INITIAL REPORT PUBLISHED BY CARDINAL NEWS JULY 23 2026
The Mount Prospect Police Department provided information at 9:33 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, 2026 that a male offender was attempting to enter vehicles, striking vehicles with a metal pipe, and causing damage and disorder in the area of Rand Road and Mount Prospect Road in Mount Prospect
Mount Prospect Police Department received multiple calls about 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, 2026 that a male subject near the intersection of Rand Road and Mount Prospect Road was approaching occupied vehicles and striking the vehicles with a metal pipe.
Prior to arriving at the Rand Road/Mount Prospect Road intersection, the the male offender caused two separate traffic crashes in the Village of Mount Prospect, and fled the scene(s) in his vehicle. The male offender caused a third traffic crash on Rand Road near Henry Street, just northwest of the Mount Prospect Road intersection. The male offender exited his vehicle with a metal pipe and walked into the roadway on Rand Road.
According to the Mount Prospect Police Department, the male offender unsuccessfully attempted to enter multiple vehicles that were being driven by motorists northwest bound on Rand Road. He also struck several vehicles with the metal pipe, causing damage to the vehicles. Two witnesses were able to restrain the subject in the roadway. When Mount Prospect Police Officers arrived on scene, they took the offender into custody. The male offender was transported to an undisclosed hospital for treatment and remains in police custody, according to the Mount Prospect Police Department.
While responding to this incident, a Mount Prospect police officer was involved in a traffic crash and suffered minor injuries, which required the police officer’s transportation to an undisclosed hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
According to the Mount Prospect Police Department, an investigation is ongoing, and criminal charges and additional updates are forthcoming.
Anyone who witnessed these events is encouraged to contact the Mount Prospect Police Department at (847) 870-5656.
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