A group of robbery offenders that has plagued a two-block stretch of Streeterville mugged two more women on Wednesday evening. The crew is now responsible for attacking at least ten victims in eight separate robberies since Dec. 24.
In another development, police now believe the crew is using a different car to carry out the crimes.
At 7:44 p.m. Wednesday, a 55-year-old woman told police that a man stepped out of a white sedan and robbed her of her purse as she walked on the 200 block of East Delaware, according to CPD Officer Jessica Alvarez.
Another woman reported that the exact same thing happened to her ten minutes later as she walked nearby on the 200 block of East Walton, Alvarez said. Chicago police saw the Kia speed away southbound on Lake Shore Drive after the attack.
Both women said the offenders used a white sedan in the crimes. Police at the scene said the vehicle is a Kia, which bears a vanity license plate beginning with “BIT.” The car was recently reported stolen in southwest suburban Lockport.
Earlier victims reported that the robbers used a white Jeep Grand Cherokee with tinted windows. That vehicle had been reported stolen in southwest suburban Homer Glen, according to a police source.
But the robbery team may have been motivated to change cars after Chicago police tried to pull the Jeep over three times in four hours on Sunday night.
Police said the offenders in the robberies are two to three black males in their early- to mid-20’s who stand 5’6” to 5’10” tall and weigh 145 to 185 pounds.
The two robberies reported on Wednesday night are part of a crime pattern that includes at least six other cases:
- in the 900 block of North Dewitt at 11:04 p.m. on Dec. 24
- in the 200 block of East Pearson at 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 30
- in the 800 block of North Dewitt around 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 30
- in the 800 block of North Dewitt at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 2
- in the 900 block of North Dewitt at about 6 p.m. on Jan. 3
- in the 200 block of East Chestnut at 8:35 p.m. on Jan. 6
Anyone with information about the robberies can contact Area Central detectives at 312-747-8380 regarding pattern P20-1-009B.