Two more people have been mugged in Lakeview since Tuesday evening as the local police district reports triple-digit a robbery increase during October compared to last year.
Most recently, a woman told police that a man that she thought was a jogger grabbed her purse and ran away in the 300 block of West Wellington around 7:45 p.m. Wednesday. The offender, described only as a tall man wearing a face mask, fled southbound.
Tuesday evening, a man reported that an offender robbed him in the 3800 block of North Pine Grove around 10:45 p.m. and then used his debit card at a nearby bank and businesses. He said the robber was a stocky Black male who stood about 5’10” tall and wore a black puffy coat with dark blue Air Jordans.
Robbery surge
This week, the Town Hall (19th) Police District reported seeing a 250% increase in robberies in the week beginning October 19 compared to the same week last year. There were 14 muggings compared to four in 2019. Robbery reports are up 143% in October compared to the same time last year, according to CPD statistics.
Town Hall officers patrol the area between Fullerton, Lawrence, the Chicago River, and Lake Michigan.
Area Three detectives this week issued a community alert to warn residents of a robbery pattern in the area. Investigators believe at least two separate groups of offenders are responsible for October’s robbery outbreak — one displays a firearm, and the other does not, according to a source.
Motor vehicle thefts are also spiking in the district this month, up 112% with 36 cases compared to 17 during the same period last year. Theft reports are also climbing in October but at a lesser pace.