Boystown robbery victims were shot by hold-up crew that has been working the North Side for weeks, CPD confirms

December 29, 2021 8:39 PM CWBChicago Boystown, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville

Chicago police tonight confirmed that an armed robbery crew that shot two men during separate hold-ups in Boystown late Tuesday and early Wednesday is part of the same group that committed dozens of crimes across Lakeview and Lincoln Park in November and December.

CWBChicago reported this morning that a source suggested the shootings were an escalation of the group’s already-violent behavior. Now, police have confirmed those suspicions.

CPD has repeatedly warned about the robbers, who are believed to be part of a group that often travels in two or three cars to commit bursts of robberies together. They have even targeted groups of people walking together on the street, including one group of eight people and another group of five.

The robberies went on a nearly two-week hiatus after Cook County Sheriff’s Police chased one of the cars, which slammed into a CPD tactical unit, on December 16. The hiatus apparently ended with the new Boystown incidents.

In a community alert issued Wednesday evening, police tied the following robberies to the same crew; however, many more cases are not on the list. We have linked to our coverage of individual incidents, when available:

The alert described the suspects as a group of two to five Black males between 13- and 25-years-old who wear dark hoodies and ski masks. They drove a gray sedan, possibly a Kia, during the latest robberies and shootings in Boystown. However, many different cars have been involved in the crime wave. They carjacked some of the vehicles.

Investigators who spoke with CWBChicago said they believe the offenders are committing the robberies for entertainment more than for profit. And that’s what has some cops especially concerned.

“This is extremely dangerous,” a source said Wednesday afternoon. “One or two people [in the crew] are very violent. They shot two victims for thrills.”

On December 17, the same source said they were concerned that the robbery crews would become more violent: “It’s a pretty quick trip from firing into the air and beating someone with a pistol to shooting someone in the leg, or worse.”

Anyone with information about the crimes can contact Area Three detectives at 312-744-8263 regarding pattern #P21-3-136D.

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