Police on Saturday warned about an armed robbery pattern in the River North neighborhood that may be connected to a shooting in the area this week. Separately, CPD issued an alert about an armed robber who rides a bike when he robs people on the Near North Side.
River North robberies
According to the first community alert, armed men who are using a maroon sedan have been linked to at least two hold-ups in River North since Tuesday. The robbers confront victims on the street and demand property at gunpoint, police said.
Most recently, they struck on 400 block of West Erie Street around 11:40 p.m. Friday, October 8. The getaway car headed north on Kingsbury Street after the hold-up.
Detectives said the crew also robbed a 25-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man who were walking in the 200 block of West Ontario around 3 a.m. Tuesday. Within moments of the hold-up on Ontario Street, a 23-year-old man was shot when he struggled with an armed robber on the 400 block of North Wells Street. Police did not publicly link the shooting with the other crimes.
Detectives said the robbers in the maroon car are a group of up to four Black males between 18- and 22-years-old who wear black clothing.
Anyone with information about the robberies can contact Area Three detectives at 312-744-8263 regarding crime pattern P21-3-110.
Bicycling bandit
Police said a bicycle-riding gunman robbed two people on the Near North Side during the afternoon of September 30. CPD did not release its warning to the public about the man until October 9.
According to the alert, the offender rides up to victims, displays a gun, takes their valuables, then pedals away.
He struck on the 1000 block of North Cambridge Street around 4 p.m. and the 1100 block of North Cleveland around 4:20 p.m., according to CPD records.
The robber is a Black male between 16- and 18-years-old who wore black clothing, the alert said.
Area Three detectives are also investigating these crimes, which are listed under crime pattern P-21-3-109.
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