Groups of armed robbers targeted two food delivery drivers within 15 minutes in Edgewater and nearby Uptown on Friday evening, but neither victim was carjacked. One of the hold-ups took place a block from where two armed hijackings were reported on Thursday evening.
In Friday’s first incident, police said a 28-year-old man was robbed as he prepared to make a delivery on the 1300 block of West Thorndale around 6:50 p.m.
As he stepped to the back of his vehicle, a black SUV pulled up and five men got out. One of the men displayed a handgun and ordered the victim to hand over his property. The crew got away with his wallet, keys, phone, and cash, according to Officer Ronald Westbrooks, a CPD spokesperson.
The offenders got back into their SUV and drove away — only to come back down the block moments later. Westbrooks said the victim thought they were going to take his car, but they continued driving.
According to the victim, the robbers were five Black men between 5’5″ and 5’8″ tall who wore black ski masks and black clothing. Their vehicle may have been a Jeep Cherokee.
Then, just after 7 p.m., another food delivery driver was robbed by five men in the 1600 block of West Carmen, Westbrooks said.
That driver, age 32, returned to his car after making a delivery when the group walked up to him and two of the offenders displayed handguns. According to Westbrooks, the men threatened to kill him before taking his earbuds, eyeglasses, and car keys.
After the robbery, all five robbers got into a silver Chevy Equinox and drove westbound on Carmen. Once again, the victim’s car was not taken. He told police the robbers were Black males in their late teens who weigh between 120- and 150 pounds and wore black clothing.
On Thursday evening, a group of four offenders carjacked two drivers just minutes apart on the 1200 block of West Thorndale, about a block from where Friday’s first hold-up was reported.
Five men in a black SUV robbed a man on the 5200 block of North Lakewood in Andersonville around 7:50 p.m. Thursday, too.
No one is in custody for any of the crimes. Area Three detectives are investigating.