It happened twice in two days at the same Old Town intersection. Each time, armed robbers took property from a victim who thought they were going to meet up with someone who agreed to buy electronics online. Instead, the property was taken from them at gunpoint.
Most recently, a 21-year-old woman went to the 1600 block of North Orchard around 6:15 p.m. Thursday to sell a used iPhone to someone she met online. Two men confronted her on the street. One put a gun to her head while the other ordered her to turn over the phones, Officer Ronald Westbrook said.
She handed over two phones, and the offenders fled into a nearby alley. The robbers were male, Black, 15- to 20-years-old, and about 6-feet tall. One of them wore a Rick and Morty sweatshirt.
A similar scenario unfolded around 3:05 p.m. Wednesday, Westbrooks said.
A 20-year-old man met someone online and agreed to sell them an iPad. Moments before the meeting, the victim received a message saying the other party’s friend would pick up the iPad instead. As soon as the victim confirmed that a man standing on the 1600 block of North Orchard was the “friend,” another person came around a corner and displayed a handgun, Westbrooks said.
The two men took all of the victim’s property and ran into a nearby alley. Westbrooks said the suspects are two Black males between 18- and 20-years-old who stand about 6’1″ tall. One wore all black clothing while the other wore black pants with white gym shoes.
Area Three detectives are investigating the robberies.
Tip: Most Chicago police stations allow people to meet in their lobbies to conduct online sales of small valuables.
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