Carjackings reported in West Loop, near Gold Coast on Saturday morning

Police are investigating a pair of armed carjackings that were reported hours apart Saturday morning, one near the Gold Coast and the other in the West Loop.

The first hijacking took place around 5:25 a.m. on the first block of West Maple, just steps from the “Viagra Triangle.” A 37-year-old man was in his gray Toyota RAV4 when a gunman emerged from a white Toyota Camry that blocked him off, according to a CPD report.

Officer Anthony Spicuzza said that the offender demanded the victim’s car and property, then drove away with the SUV. At least two accomplices fled in the Camry. According to initial information, the armed carjacker was a Hispanic man who wore a black hoodie.

Then, another carjacking was reported on the 900 block of West Washington around 8:55 a.m. A 49-year-old man was walking toward his car when a gray SUV, possibly a Jeep Cherokee, pulled up and a hijacker stepped out with a handgun.

The carjacker pointed the gun at the victim and took control of his Range Rover, which police found about 30 minutes later in a vacant lot on the 1300 block of South Heath in Pilsen, according to a source.

Detectives are investigating both cases.

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