Update September 29 — Chicago police have released a community alert in which they linked some of the crimes in this story with other robberies that occurred around the same time.
According to CPD, one group of offenders is responsible for these robberies:
- 600 block of W. Fullerton Pkwy on September 27 at 10:08 p.m.
- 1400 block of W. Lake St. on September 27 at 11:30 p.m.
- 1300 block of W. Fulton St. on September 27 at 11:32 p.m.
- 500 block of W. Division St. on September 27 at 11:38 p.m.
- 1600 block of N. Claremont Ave. on September 27 at 11:40 pm.
Police said the robbers are Black males between 19- and 30-years-old who wear dark clothing and ski masks. They displayed silver handguns.
Anyone with information about the crimes can contact Area Three detectives at 312-744-8263 regarding pattern #P22-CWP-024
An armed robbery crew committed carjackings in Wrigleyville, Wicker Park, and Humboldt Park overnight and also robbed a woman in Avondale during a two-hour crime spree early Wednesday, according to Chicago police reports. Detectives are also investigating armed robberies reported in Lincoln Park and Lakeview on Tuesday evening.
Wednesday’s crimes began around 2:13 a.m. in the 1200 block of West Cornelia, police said. A 31-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man were sitting in a silver Ford Focus when three men walked up, displayed guns, and demanded control of the car, according to a CPD spokesperson.
The victims complied, and the men drove away with the Ford.
The robbers were Black males who all wore masks and all displayed handguns, according to the police report.
Minutes after the carjacking, a Chicago police license plate reader spotted the hijacked car heading south in the 1600 block of North California Avenue.
Seconds later, around 2:25 a.m., another carjacking occurred in the 1100 block of North California: A 29-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were sitting in a black Nissan Maxima when two men displayed guns and ordered them out.
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The offenders drove away with the Nissan, followed by an SUV, according to the police spokesperson.
Then, around 3:45 a.m., four men in a black Honda Pilot displayed three handguns to rob a woman of her wallet and keys near Kimball and Wisner in Avondale.
And, at 3:55 a.m., a black SUV pulled up next to a 60-year-old rideshare driver and his 24-year-old female passenger as they waited for a red light in the 1400 block of North Western, according to police.
Two robbers stepped out of the SUV, displayed a gun, and ordered the driver and his passenger to get out of the car. Both victims complied, and the hijackers drove off with their black 2022 Toyota Camry.
Police said the woman was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital for an evaluation.
CPD is also investigating two other robberies from Tuesday evening.
Around 7:40 p.m., a man pushed another man to the ground in the 600 block of West Sheridan and took his wallet, according to a police report. The victim believed the robber displayed a knife and ran to a Black Honda Accord that fled south on Lake Shore Drive.
Then, around 10:32 p.m., a 68-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman were walking in the 600 block of West Fullerton when two robbers walked up and demanded their property at gunpoint, police said. They took the victims’ phones, a wallet, and a purse, then ran from the scene.
Robbery reports are up 17% citywide compared to last year, according to CPD, but the three police districts involved in the latest robberies are up even more, and hold-ups are at five-year highs in all of them.