Chicago police responded to a series of armed carjackings in the Loop, River North, and West Ridge overnight. No arrests have been made.
Around 5:15 a.m., two men displayed handguns and forced a 28-year-old woman from her car after she parked in the 300 block of West Walton, a Chicago police spokesperson said. She complied, and the offenders drove away in her black 2019 Mercedes.
Then, at 5:41 a.m., a man driving a dark-colored sedan struck a 22-year-old man’s car in the 200 block of South Wells. When the victim stepped out of his car, an offender from the other vehicle pointed a handgun at him, police said. The victim ran away, and the carjackers took his white Lexus. An officer who responded to the scene said the hijacking was captured on video.
Two incidents reported earlier Saturday morning in West Ridge appear to be linked to a robbery and carjacking spree that hit the city Thursday:
- Around 3:35 a.m. Saturday, a 54-year-old man was trying to find a parking spot in the 6500 block of North Richmond when six male and female offenders used two cars to box him in. The offenders displayed at least one handgun, beat the victim, and took his black 2016 Mustang. EMS took the victim to Swedish Hospital in good condition, according to CPD.
- Moments later, a group of about six robbers arrived in the 2700 block of West Arthur in a black Mustang and a blue Kia with a broken rear window. They got out and robbed a man at gunpoint of his wallet, phone, keys, and jacket, then fled the scene, a CPD report said.
In the Thursday morning incidents, a group of six to eight male and female offenders traveled in two cars to carry out a series of robberies and carjackings in the city.
Three of Thursday’s crimes occurred in the same area as Saturday’s incidents.
Around 2:45 Thursday, two men, ages 22 and 26, were in a car in the 2100 block of West Norwood when three gunmen pulled them from the vehicle and took their valuables, Chicago police said. The robbers escaped in a white SUV.
Then, in the 6400 block of North Claremont, two incidents occurred in quick succession.
- A group of men displayed a gun and robbed a 35-year-old man walking on the block. They escaped in white and gray SUVs that were waiting for them, a CPD spokesperson said.
- Three men confronted a 23-year-old man who was getting out of his black Mazda 6. One of the robbers displayed a gun and took the victim’s keys and valuables. They then drove away with his car. A source said police found the vehicle abandoned in the 600 block of North Troy about an hour later.
The group is suspected of also committing a robbery that occurred in the 4800 block of West Ainslie around 1:30 a.m. Thursday, according to a CPD statement. A 29-year-old man was walking on the sidewalk when five men stepped out of white and dark-colored SUVs to rob him at gunpoint.
Ten minutes later, five carjackers stepped out of a black SUV and forced a 46-year-old man from his vehicle in the 4900 block of West Lawrence, the police statement said. The hijackers pistol-whipped the victim and took his wallet before driving away with his car.
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