Lakeview: Robber punches woman in throat during afternoon robbery

Surveillance image of the robbery offender fleeing the scene. | Facebook

A man punched a woman in her throat during a robbery Monday afternoon in the Lakeview neighborhood, police said. No one is in custody.

The man rode up behind the 35-year-old victim on a bike as she walked down an alley behind her place of business on the 1600 block of West Diversey at 12:22 p.m., said CPD spokesperson Officer Jessica Alvarez. 

“He snuck up behind and tried to grab my phone,” the victim told a Facebook group shortly after the incident. “I got it back, but then he grabbed my cross-body purse. The strap broke, and I tried to get it back, but then he punched me in the throat and threatened to shoot me.” No weapon was displayed, she said.

The victim posted a surveillance image that shows the offender fleeing the scene on a bicycle, She said he is black and in his late teens or early 20’s. He wore skinny jeans and a maroon zip-up jacket over a white hoodie.

Police said the robber fled westbound through the alley and then turned north on Paulina.

About CWBChicago 6026 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