Oh, Divvy. What are we going to do with you?
Police are looking for the man who robbed a woman in the Loop early today while he rode past on a Divvy bike.
The 35-year-old woman and three friends were walking in the 700 block of South State when the Divviot pedaled up on his baby blue bike around 2:20 a.m.
A struggle broke out when he grabbed the woman’s purse, causing him to crash the bike. After gaining control of the woman’s orange Coach clutch, the man ran away, leaving the Divvy behind.
The victim and her friends chased after the man for a moment but gave up. No one was injured.
Police described the offender as a black male between 16- and 20-years-old. He wore a gray hoodie, gray sweats, and was last seen running north on State. He may have been in the company of another man who was riding an electric scooter.
Chicago’s Divvy bike-sharing system is battling a wave of thefts in recent weeks. Criminals have learned how to compromise the bike docking stations’ lock mechanism, giving free access to virtually anyone who knows how to beat the system.
CWBChicago reporters have been leading the way with information about the Divvy theft crisis. See their previous reporting:
July 12, 2018
“Hot ??”: Compromised Lock System Has Divvy Bikes Battling Theft Surge; 4 Arrests In 6 Days In River North
July 18, 2018
Update: Divvy Bike Thefts Rage On — Four More Arrests As Ditched Divvies Are Found All Over Town
July 24, 2018
Divvy Theft Crisis: Video of theft technique emerges as system continues to bleed blue bikes
