We hesitated to use the term “wilding” to describe attacks by large groups on individuals and much smaller groups. Unfortunately, there is no other way to describe some of the attacks in Wrigleyville and Boystown.
While many of these incidents are classified by police as robberies, others are batteries — actually causing physical harm to another — in which no robbery occurred. They’re beatdowns.
The uneasy truth is that it appears groups of attackers who think it’s entertaining to beat and sometimes rob innocent victims find their thrills on the streets of Wrigleyville and Boystown.
2015
2014
Incident #1
2014 January 1, 3:00PM
A lone man is jumped, beaten, and robbed by 6 offenders at Sheridan and Pine Grove. CPD case #HX100721
Incident #2
2014 January 1, 3:05PM
An elderly man is kicked, beaten and robbed by 5 to 6 offenders in the 4100 block of North Kenmore. CPD case #HX100743.
Incident #3
2014 January 24, 3:30AM
A group of three women and two men overpower, beat, and rob a man near Grace and Clark in Wrigleyville. Subsequently, the police department downgraded the case from “aggravated battery” to “pocket picking.” Further details of the downgrade are HERE. CPD case #HX126821
Incident #4
2014 June 17, 4:20AM
Victim was chased, beaten, and robbed by three young black men between 18- and 24-years of age. The victim was found bleeding from the head in the middle of Belmont Avenue by a passing Chicago Police Department prisoner transfer unit. Case HX306826. Arrests were made.
Incident #5
2014 July 4, 8:37PM
A lone victim was robbed by a group of five offenders at 870 W Belmont.
Incident #6
2014 July 5, 3:30AM
A man was beaten, pepper-sprayed, and robbed by a group of three offenders on Broadway between Roscoe and Melrose.
Incident #7
2014 July 5, 3:47AM
A man reported being attacked and robbed by five men at Belmont and Sheffield. A sergeant made contact with the victim, but a unit assigned to do the paperwork claimed that it could not locate the man.
Incident #8
2014 July 6, 2:00AM
A group of five offenders jumps and beat a man at Addison and Lakewood, taking his phone.
Incident #9
2014 July 6, 3:30AM (Approximate)
Three robbers jump and beat a lone Wrigleyville bartender on the street near Clark and Newport.
Incident #10
2014 July 21, 9:30AM
A 20-year-old man was jumped and beaten by a group of offenders outside of the Whole Foods on Halsted Street.
Incident #11
2014 August 15, 3:00AM (Approximate)
Man is jumped by perhaps a dozen men who beat, kick, and rob him near Belmont and Sheffield.
Incident #12
2014 September 6, 4:50AM
A man is beaten and robbed by up to 8 men under the L tracks near Belmont and Sheffield.
Incident #13
2014 October 25, 2:30AM
A man is beaten and robbed by four offenders in Wrigleyville.
Incidents #14-16
2014 Novmeber 15, 2:00AM, 3:00AM, 4:00AM
Three victims were robbed in separate attacks by groups of four to six men.
