Two men who were robbed in Wicker Park early Friday were likely targeted by an armed hold-up crew that struck at least three more times overnight in West Town, Little Italy, and Pilsen, according to a source. No arrests have been made.
The men, ages 25 and 26, were sitting in a parked car on the 1200 block of North Hermitage around 2 a.m. when a silver car pulled up next to them and three men emerged with handguns, said Officer Ronald Westbrooks. The offenders took the victims’ phones and wallets, then fled in the car they arrived in.
Ten minutes later, two men stepped out of a silver car on the 1900 block of West Division and robbed a 30-year-old man who was walking by, Westbrooks said. They took two bags from the man and drove away. Paramedics transported the victim to St. Mary’s Hospital for an arm injury, according to Westbrooks.
The crew began their spree with two hold-ups in quick succession around 1:45 a.m.
In one case, a 50-year-old man was sitting in his parked car on the 1300 block of South Blue Island when two men pulled up behind him in a gray sedan. They got into his car, pulled out handguns, and took his cash.
Around the same time, a 25-year-old man was robbed as he walked on the 1700 block of West 18th Street in Pilsen. Westbrooks said a robber stepped out of a gray car and took the victim’s money at gunpoint. At least two other men were inside the car.
Westbrooks said the suspects are Black males who wore masks. One victim said they are in their early 20’s with one being about 5’10” tall and 230 pounds while another is about 5’7″ tall and 150 pounds.
Detectives from Area Three and Area Five are investigating.
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