Chicago police are investigating a series of robberies overnight in Lakeview, Uptown, and North Center. The victims ranged in age from 50 to 71. Some of the hold-ups appear to be related Here is what we have learned:
At 1:30 a.m. two men walked up behind a 61-year-old woman and pulled her to the ground by her backpack on the 4700 block of North Racine, CPD spokesperson Kellie Bartoli said.
The robbers took the woman’s bag and other property, then ran away through the alley. Police did not release descriptions of the offenders.
Later, around 5:10 a.m., three men confronted a woman at gunpoint on the 3000 block of North Clark in Lakeview. Bartoli said they took the woman’s valuables at gunpoint and fled in a silver or gray sedan, possibly a Toyota.
The woman said the robbers were three Black males wearing masks who all had guns. She last saw them heading east on Barry from Clark, according to a CPD report.
About 30 minutes later, a robber tried to take car keys from a 71-year-old man in the parking on the 4000 block of North Western, Bartoli said. They struggled for control of the keys until the offender ran away empty-handed.
He was last seen heading west on Irving Park Road, then north on Maplewood, according to Bartoli. No suspect description was available.
The victim cut his hand during the fight, but declined medical attention.
Police are also investigating another robbery that was reported near Cullom and Wolcott around 5:45 a.m. The victim said three Black males who appeared to be in their late teens took his wallet and phone at gunpoint, then fled in a small white car. That scenario closely resembles the earlier hold-up in Lakeview.
All of this morning’s robberies occurred in the Town Hall (19th) Police District, where robberies are up 10% compared to last year, according to CPD data. This year’s robbery total is 9% higher than 2020 and 29% higher than 2019.
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