Chicago — A group of armed men robbed three people within about two minutes in Wicker Park on Monday morning, according to Chicago police.
First, two men were robbed at gunpoint in the 1200 block of North Wolcott around 3 a.m. Police said the victims, ages 26 and 29, were on the street when four men approached them, and two of the offenders displayed firearms.
After getting the victims’ wallets and phones, they fled south in a blue Hyundai bearing Florida plates, a CPD report said.
Just two minutes later, a 20-year-old man was robbed at gunpoint in the 2000 block of West Crystal. He was sitting in a car when four men, two of whom had guns, demanded his property and escaped in the Hyundai, according to police. The vehicle has a broken rear passenger-side window, which suggests it was probably stolen.
The robbers were described as Black males in their late teens or early 20s. They were all skinny and wore masks with all black clothing.
Several other robberies were reported during the early hours on Monday, including three holdups of 7-Eleven stores. A separate string of robberies hit Lakeview and the Loop.
Citywide robbery reports are up 13% this year compared to the same time in 2022, according to Chicago police data. Robberies are up 28% compared to 2019.
In the Shakespeare (14th) District, which includes Wicker Park, robbery reports are flat year-over-year and up 35% compared to 2019.