 |
| 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.
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.
