Roving bands of violent teenagers ran rampant in the Loop and Near North Side again on Monday evening, just hours after several juveniles were released without being charged in similar attacks and robberies that unfolded downtown earlier in the day. It was the third night in a row that similar attacks were reported downtown.
In the wake of the latest attacks, Chicago police updated their warning to the public about the crews on Tuesday morning.
For over an hour Monday evening, police fielded dozens of calls about young people, often on Divvy bikes, who were robbing and randomly attacking people on the street. In one case, a Divvy bike employee said a group of teenagers punched him in the face when he refused to give them free bikes from his truck near North Avenue Beach.
At 8:37 p.m., a large group of teens attacked and robbed a 40-year-old man on Madison just east of State Street, according to Chicago police. Several other attacks were reported across the Loop between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., according to CPD dispatch records.
Police have handled similar waves of attacks in the downtown area on Saturday night, Sunday, and again Monday.
Officers arrested six juveniles after three violent robberies unfolded in the Loop early Monday. Four of the teens were released without being charged. Another was released after being ticketed for possessing a BB gun, and the sixth was held on an outstanding warrant, a CPD spokesperson said.
On Monday afternoon, Area Three detectives issued a warning about the attacks and said the robbery crews consist of between five and ten Black males and Black females between 14- and 19-years-old. Investigators released an updated alert Tuesday morning that said the attacks are being carried out by between three and twelve offenders between 12- and 19-years-old.
Anyone with information about the crimes can contact Area Three detectives at 312-744-8263 regarding crime pattern P21-3-095A.
Previous reporting
- Robbery crew chases down, beats woman in the Loop, leaving her in critical condition (August 15, 2021)
- 6 juveniles in custody after waves of robberies hit downtown; Crew linked to Saturday attack that left woman critically injured (August 16, 2021)
- Detectives warn about violent attacks in the Loop as charges are declined against 6 suspects (August 16, 2021)
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