Chicago man shot in snowblower heist

CHICAGO, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Chicago police say the first shooting in the city since this week's big blizzard involved the alleged theft of a snowblower.

Police Superintendent Jody Weis said a man pushing his coveted snow-clearing machine along a South Side street was accosted by four men in a car who offered to buy it, and then shot him leg when he said it wasn't for sale.

The victim, whose name was not released, was in good condition Saturday while awaiting surgery at Stroger Hospital, the Chicago Tribune said.

Weis said Friday's incident was the first shooting since more than 20 inches of snow fell Tuesday and virtually shut the city down.