Chicago police arrested four suspected carjackers and recovered four guns after a series of armed hijackings unfolded Friday afternoon and evening between the Gold Coast and West Town. The arrests follow two days of similar crimes in the area.
Yesterday’s spree began around 3 p.m. at the Marathon gas station, 649 North Ashland. A police spokesperson said two masked hijackers displayed guns and demanded the woman’s keys, then drove away with her white 2017 Porsche Macan.
The stolen Porsche was used by three men who carjacked another driver in the Gold Coast around 6:35 p.m. in the 1400 block of North Dearborn, according to the police.
About 20 minutes later, the three armed and masked men jumped out of the Porsche and carjacked a man at the Shell gas station, 1400 West Division.
Finally, just before 7 p.m., four masked men exited the Porsche and carjacked a woman of her 2018 Jaguar F-PACE in the 400 block of North Armour, according to Chicago police.
With help from the CPD helicopter, Chicago police officers followed the Porsche until it stopped about 30 minutes later in the 300 block of North Leavitt. Four people who fled from the vehicle were arrested. Officers also recovered four weapons, including two that were found on top of a garage.
About an hour later, officers found the Jaguar abandoned in the 3800 block of West Taylor in Lawndale.
Charges were pending.
Four other carjackings were reported in the same general areas on Wednesday and Thursday.
- Around 10:05 a.m. Wednesday, a hotel valet attendant was carjacked in the West Loop. The 25-year-old had just parked a customer’s BMW X3 when four men pulled up near him in the 100 block of North Green and demanded the keys to the car, police said.
- Three hijackings were reported in about 70 minutes on Thursday: at a gas station in the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue at 4:05 p.m.; in the 100 block of South Sangamon at 4:35 p.m.; and in the first block of North Carpenter around 5:17 p.m. A valet attendant was targeted in the Carpenter hijacking, according to police records.
Police have not announced any arrests in connection with the earlier hijackings.