I can’t believe it’s not ganja! Armed robbers take cash, gun, fake pot in smoke shop heists

Two armed men robbed smoke shops in Logan Square and near the Belmont Red Line station Tuesday, according to CPD reports. They got away with the store owner’s handgun in the first hold-up and scored look-alike pot from the second shop about two hours later.

Around 4 p.m., the offenders walked into Ray’s Smoke and Vape, 2947 West Armitage, and pulled out a handgun. They reportedly collected cash, merchandise, and the owner’s 9-millimeter handgun, then ran southbound through a nearby alley.

Some of SmokePost’s merchandise looks like pot. But it’s not. | Instagram

Then, just before 6 p.m., two men appeared identical to the Logan Square robbers brandished a gun and robbed the SmokePost, 905 West Belmont, in Lakeview.

This time they scored money and products – including two jars of CBD products that look like pot but don’t have intoxicating effects. They’re going to be unimpressed with the high.

One of the robbers carried a distinctive yellow backpack or shoulder bag during both hold-ups, according to CPD records. They both wore black hoodies and full face masks. Video shows one of them to be Black and the other to be White or Hispanic.

No arrests have been made.

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CWBChicago was created in 2013 by five residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who had grown disheartened with inaccurate information that was being provided at local Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Our coverage area has expanded since then to cover Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown, and other North Side Areas. But our mission remains unchanged: To provide original public safety reporting with better context and greater detail than mainstream media outlets. Our editorial email address is news@cwbchicago.com