Man Mugged While Tying Shoes Outside Lakeview Halloween Party; Same Crew Strikes Woman Nearby

Locations of two robberies within 15 minutes in Lakeview Saturday evening. | BatchGeo

A man on his way to a Halloween party was mugged near the Southport Brown Line station Saturday evening, just minutes after the same robbers stole a purse from a woman near Boystown. No one is in custody.

Police response to the muggings was slowed because the local 19th Police District was in so-called “Radio Assignments Pending” or RAP status at the time of the attacks. City officials declare RAPs when a police district does not have any officers available to handle incoming calls for help.

Around 9:15 p.m., a man dressed in costume stopped outside of a Halloween party to tie his shoes in the 1300 block of West Newport, police said. Three unknown individuals approached him and announced a robbery, taking the victim’s wallet and phone, police said.

The offenders were described as a black man in his early 20’s with long dreadlocks who wore a black hoodie and a vest; a Hispanic man in a black jacket and blue jeans; and a black female in her early-20’s who may be pregnant.

You can support CWB’s newsgathering efforts with a donation to our Tip Jar.

Chicago police tonight, citing incomplete reports, were unable to confirm details of a second incident that may have occurred near the Southport station at around the same time.

The robbers are also believed to be responsible for snatching a woman’s purse in the 900 block of West Fletcher shortly before 9 p.m., police said.

Saturday’s RAP in the 19th District began at 1:38 p.m. and continued until 9:48 p.m. It was the 130th RAP for the Town Hall District this year. Since 2011, the district has lost more than 25% of its police manpower.

———-
Email      Facebook       Twitter       YouTube
About CWBChicago 4269 Articles
CWBChicago was created in 2013 by five residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who had grown disheartened with inaccurate information that was being provided at local Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Our coverage area has expanded since then to cover Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown, and other North Side Areas. But our mission remains unchanged: To provide original public safety reporting with better context and greater detail than mainstream media outlets. Our editorial email address is news@cwbchicago.com