Some would-be robbers appear to be picking some challenging targets on Chicago’s North Side.
A victim pulled a knife on two robbers during a mugging early Tuesday. Then, late Tuesday night, a woman pepper-sprayed two robbers during another robbery in the same neighborhood, according to Chicago police.
And, as in the earlier incident, Tuesday night’s robbers targeted another victim minutes after their first hold-up failed.
CPD said a 22-year-old woman was outside in the 700 block of West Wrightwood when two men walked up and tried to rob her at gunpoint around 11:25 p.m. Apparently, she didn’t like that idea, so she pulled out a can of pepper spray and soaked the offenders, police said.
Both men fled in a red sedan that was waiting nearby. According to police, the woman was not injured and did not lose any property to the robbers.
A few minutes later, two armed robbers approached a 54-year-old man from behind in the 500 block of West Wellington in Lakeview, a CPD spokesperson said. Both robbers displayed firearms and demanded the victim’s property. But they became spooked and left without taking anything. CPD said they fled the scene in a maroon or burgundy sedan.
The robbery attempt on Wrightwood unfolded less than a half-mile from where a man scared off two robbers by pulling out a knife around midnight Tuesday. Police said the 23-year-old and his 21-year-old girlfriend were in the 2300 block of North Geneva Terrace when the offenders confronted them and started to go through their pockets.
But the male victim pulled out a knife and threatened the robbers, who ran away emptyhanded and jumped into a black sedan driven by a third offender, according to CPD.
Just a few minutes later, an Uber Eats driver was confronted in the 2400 block of North Seminary by a man who told him to “gimme the car.” The victim complied, and the thief drove away with his gold Hyundai Sonata.
Then, at 12:30 a.m., a light-colored Hyundai Sonata rolled up on a 38-year-old man who was walking in the 2500 block of North Orchard.
Five men from the car all displayed handguns and took his property, according to police.
All but one of the recent hold-ups were reported in CPD’s Town Hall (19th) District, where robbery reports are up 47% from last year and 13% compared to 2018, according to CPD data.
