Armed carjackers stole five cars in four separate crimes stretching from the Gold Coast to West Town and Lincoln Park to Edgewater on Tuesday evening. Three of the five hijacked vehicles are Dodge Chargers, most are rental cars, and at least three have out-of-state license plates.
The night’s first carjacking was reported around 6 p.m. on the 1400 block of North Dearborn in the Gold Coast. Four men arrived in two vehicles and took the victim’s dark gray Dodge Charger rental car bearing New York plates at gunpoint, according to a CPD report.
One of the two cars that the offenders arrived in was located a few minutes later on the first block of West Schiller. The orange Volkswagen, which had a flat tire and a Florida license plate, was previously reported stolen.
About 30 minutes later, a 61-year-old man was carjacked in the 2700 block of North Pine Grove in Lincoln Park, according to a CPD spokesperson. The victim told police he was sitting in his car in the alley when three masked men walked up on both sides of his car and ordered him out. According to the victim, one of the offenders exposed an AR15-style rifle that he had concealed under his coat. The victim said a white sedan followed his car as the hijackers drove away.
Then, around 7:40 p.m., two men exited a silver or gray Dodge Charger and ordered a 50-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman out of their brand new 2020 Range Rover Velar in the 1500 block of West Huron, according to a CPD report. Both carjackers displayed handguns, one of which had a green laser sight attached, the victims said. The offenders took the victims’ wallets and cellphones before driving away with the luxury SUV, which bears Michigan temporary plates.
Finally, at 8:40 p.m., a group of hijackers took two cars from a couple on the 1000 block of West Hollywood in Edgewater. Once again, the victims said the hijackers displayed an assault-style rifle and handguns.
The 27-year-olds were sitting in a black 2021 Dodge Charger rental car when three offenders stepped out of a Jeep Cherokee and forced them from the vehicle, according to CPD.
Police said the robbers collected valuables from the victims, including keys to the woman’s orange 2020 Dodge Charger rental car, which was nearby. The hijackers then drove away with both cars and left the Jeep Cherokee behind. The Jeep itself was taken in an armed carjacking inside Marquette Park, according to a CPD report.
No injuries were reported in any of the hijackings, police said. Area Three detectives are investigating.