A man was robbed at gunpoint as he shoveled snow in Rogers Park on Wednesday morning, police said. Detectives recently issued a community alert about armed robberies in the area.
The victim, age 45, was clearing snow when the offender walked up and displayed a handgun on the 7300 block of North Ashland, CPD spokesperson Karie James said. The victim handed his valuables to the robber, who fled south on Ashland.
According to the victim, the robber is a Black male, 25- to 30-years-old, about 5’10” tall, and 230-240 pounds.
Area Three detectives on Saturday warned about an armed robbery pattern in the area after investigators linked two recent cases. One of those hold-ups took place just a couple of blocks from where the snow shoveler was robbed Wednesday.
In that case, which unfolded at 6:45 a.m. on January 15, a gunman robbed a man as he walked in the 1600 block of West Jarvis. The offender took the victim’s iPhone and cash.
The other robbery that police listed in their alert took place in the 1200 block of West Thorndale around 7 p.m. January 13.
Police said the offender responsible for the pattern approached victims on sidewalks, displayed a handgun, and ordered them to hand over cash and phones. He then forced the victims to either unlock or change the password on their phones to something he could remember.
In Saturday’s alert, police said the robber is a Black male between 20- and 30-years-old who stands about 6-feet tall. He wore a black mask and dark jacket.
Anyone with information about the robberies can contact Area Three detectives at 312-744-8263.
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