Chicago police on Wednesday warned North Siders about a series of armed robberies in which people have been abducted at gunpoint by offenders who forced them into vehicles and took their valuables.
The alert from Area North detectives came just hours after CWBChicago exclusively reported that two men had reported being abducted and robbed in Lincoln Park since Jan. 10.
Police revealed in the alert that they have connected at least three additional robberies in Lakeview and North Center to the crime pattern.
CWBChicago has collected exclusive details of the robberies from sources.
Police said in the alert that two to three offenders are targeting victims on the public way during early morning and overnight hours. The robbers display a handgun and usually force their victims to get into their vehicle. The victims’ valuables are taken while the offenders drive them around the neighborhood before forcing them back out of the vehicle up to 30 minutes later, according to details laid out in police reports secured by CWBChicago.
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The first robbery in the pattern was reported on the 600 block of West Diversey at 2:45 a.m. on Jan. 10, police said. This is the only case in the pattern in which the victim was not abducted, according to a source.
On Jan. 12, two offenders forced a man into their vehicle as he walked on the 1000 block of West Grace in Wrigleyville around 6:25 a.m. The offenders drove the man around Lakeview for nearly 30 minutes before dumping him near the intersection of Halsted and Oakdale, police records show.
At 1:15 a.m. on Jan. 15, a 68-year-old Rogers Park resident told police that two men pushed him from behind, implied they had a weapon, and forced him into a vehicle as he walked on the 1700 block of North Halsted. The men drove him to an ATM where they forced him to withdraw money before they dropped him off in an alley behind the 2400 block of North Lincoln.
The Jan. 15 robbery is not listed on the Area North detectives’ alert, possibly because it took place in the Area Central territory.
Police said the crew targeted two victims on Tuesday morning.
First, a 29-year-old man told police that an SUV pulled alongside him as he walked on the 2600 block of North Sheffield around 2:30 a.m. An offender emerged from the vehicle, displayed a silver handgun, and forced him to get into the car, CPD spokesperson Kellie Bartoli said.
The victim followed the gunman’s orders and two offenders went through his belongings as a third man drove around the neighborhood until they told him to get out on the 800 block of West Willow. His wallet and phone were taken.
Then, a man reported that he was abducted at gunpoint outside Coonley Elementary School in North Center at 6:49 a.m. The victim told police that a man in a ski mask displayed a gun and dragged him into a silver vehicle. He said the men robbed him in the car and then forced him from the car near the Jewel-Osco, 4250 North Lincoln. An ambulance crew treated the victim for minor injuries.
Police offered descriptions of three offenders: A black male between 20- and 30-years-old; a black male between 20- and 25-years-old; and a Hispanic male of unknown age. The crew is using a gray or silver SUV, according to detectives.
Anyone with information about the robberies can contact Area North investigators at 312-744-8263 regarding pattern P20-3-028.