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| Robberies are soaring in The Loop, which includes the city’s theater and primary business districts. | Wiki Commons |
It’s one of Chicago’s dirty little secrets.
Robberies in the heart of the city’s business district have soared 132% since 2014. And there is no sign that things will be slowing down soon.
Through mid-December, The Loop has recorded 356 robberies this year. That’s up from 294 last year, 179 in 2015, and just 153 in 2014, according to data provided by the city.
At least two muggings had been reported in Loop since 8 p.m. yesterday.
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| A tourist was robbed today outside of the I Am Temple, 170 W Washington |
• At 8:15 p.m., a man was attacked from behind and pushed to the ground on the corner of State and Monroe by at least two offenders who robbed him. The suspects jumped into a dark blue vehicle with a dent in the rear. The victim did not get a good look at the suspects and no description was available.
• Shortly before 1 a.m. today, a tourist was beaten to the ground and robbed outside of the I Am Temple, 170 West Washington. A passer-by called police after seeing the man lying motionless on the ground. Witnesses described the offenders as two black male teenagers, one of whom is over 6-feet tall. They took the man’s wallet and ran westbound.
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| One of Wednesday’s victims was mugged outside the Billy Goat on Lake St. |
Around 1:30 Wednesday morning, a victim was beaten and robbed outside of The Billy Goat Tavern at 60 East Lake Street. Within minutes, a second robbery by the same crew was reported in the 1200 block of South Wabash, just south of The Loop.
Police said the primary offender on Wednesday was a 5’11”-tall black male who wore a black zip-up hoodie and dark blue jeans. He fled the robbery scenes in a black Ford SUV—possibly a Bronco or Expedition, according to investigators.
