Three suspects are in custody after they apparently committed three robberies in a 15-minute binge through Lakeview and Lincoln Park on Thursday afternoon.
The crew made a critical error as they sped from the third robbery as their driver carelessly turned in front of a Chicago police detective driving nearby in an unmarked car. The cop determined that their car was stolen and followed it into Streeterville, where it crashed into newspaper boxes on the corner of McClurg and Ontario shortly before 5 p.m.
CWBChicago reader Ray F. captured video of police making one arrest.
According to CPD reports, the robberies began around 4:15 p.m. when the three offenders robbed a man at gunpoint in the 1200 block of West Nelson in Lakeview.
Around the same time, the crew rolled up on an Uptown woman as she walked in the 900 block of West Wolfram. Two passers-by heard the woman scream and intervened in the robbery. But the offenders managed to get away with the victim’s phone nonetheless.
Minutes later, the robbers pulled to a stop on the 400 block of West Wrightwood and robbed a 27-year-old man who was standing on the sidewalk, according to Officer Alex Aguas, a CPD spokesperson.
Two males got out of the car, and one of them pointed a handgun at the victim, ordering him to surrender his wallet and phone, Aguas said.
The victim complied, and the robbers returned to their car, which sped onto Lakeview Avenue — directly in front of the detective who ran the car’s Arkansas plate and learned the vehicle had been stolen Wednesday, according to a CPD report.
The detective followed the crew as they drove down Lake Shore Drive to Streeterville, where the car crashed.
Two suspects fled from the car. One was arrested inside a nearby parking garage. Cops found another one on the 400 block of East Erie. The driver was arrested as he sat behind the wheel of the wrecked Nissan Altima. Police said he was carrying a plastic look-alike handgun.
Charges were pending late Thursday night. At least two of the suspects are juveniles.