Two violent robberies in the Lakeview on Monday were likely the work of the same group of criminals, according to a community alert from Area North detectives. Up to three offenders pepper-sprayed people on the street before robbing the victims of their property, according to the alert. One of the victims was also stabbed.
The first robbery occurred at the corner of Halsted and Roscoe on the Boystown bar strip around 2 a.m. A woman in her mid-20’s was treated at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center after the offenders attacked and robbed her of a Louis Vuitton wallet.
A police surveillance camera captured at least part of the robbery and the offenders appeared to escape northbound on Halsted street in a black Chevy sedan bearing a license plate that begins with BQ2, according to initial information from cops on the scene.
Then, around 7:48 a.m., a 52-year-old man was sprayed, stabbed, and robbed of his wallet as he walked on the 3200 block of North Sheffield. Workers at a nearby Walgreens called 911 for help after the man came into their store, bleeding profusely moments later.
Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) told constituents in an email on Thursday that the stabbing victim had stopped cooperating with investigators.
Police described three suspects: Two black males who are about 20-years-old and a black male between 20- and 30-years-old who has short hair, stands about 5’8” tall, and weighs about 170 pounds.
Anyone with information about the crimes can contact Area North investigators at 312-744-8263 about crime alert #P20-3-074.
Editor’s note: The police department community alert incorrectly gave March 12 as the date of occurrence for the robberies. We have corrected the information for our report.
