7 liquor stores robbed in 2-hour spree Saturday evening

CHICAGO — Armed robbers raided seven liquor stores in about a two-hour spree on Saturday evening, a repeat performance of a similar crime spree on Wednesday evening. Like the earlier incidents, some of the stores’ customers were robbed, too.

The holdups began around 8:35 p.m. at Food and Liquor Express, 2752 West Lawrence. Two masked men entered the store with guns and robbed the cashier, then fled the scene, according to a Chicago police report.

They were described as Black, slender, and dressed in black clothing.

At 8:46 p.m., two men robbed Jerusalem Liquors, 3133 West Lawrence, police said. They took cash from the register and robbed a woman as they left the store, according to CPD.

More robberies followed:

Eden’s Food & Liquor, 4805 West Foster, around 9:10 p.m.
Ezi Mart, 4804 North Central, at about 9:25 p.m.
Max’s Food & Liquor, 6200 West Belmont, around 10 p.m.
Bel Park Food & Liquor, 4752 West Belmont, at about 10:15 p.m.

The crew pistol-whipped victims at many of the crime scenes, according to officers who responded to the calls. Some victims reported that the men were wearing yellow gloves.

Most recently, two armed men robbed Albany Liquors and Foods, 3048 West Fullerton, in Logan Square. Police said they hit the cashier in the head with a handgun and took cash from the registers around 10:45 p.m.

The Logan Square suspects were described as Black, 28 to 30 years old, 5’10” to 6 feet tall, wearing all black clothing and black ski masks.

Earlier incidents

Armed robbers held up four liquor stores and the businesses’ customers in less than an hour Wednesday night in Logan Square and Humboldt Park.

The crew pointed guns equipped with extended ammunition magazines at the victims, ordered the victims to the floor, and took the victims’ valuables, according to a CPD alert. After taking cash from the registers and safes, the robbers escaped in a black Alfa Romeo, police said.

Starting at Yauco Food & Liquor, 2744 West Division, at 9:48 p.m., the trio displayed guns and took money from store registers, employees, and customers.

During the second robbery, the group took cash from the register at West Town Wine and Spirits, 2501 West North Avenue, and then directed the victim into the back of the store, according to CPD. They took more cash in the back room, then fled down a nearby alley around 10:10 p.m.

About 15 minutes later, they walked into Tip Top Liquors, 2700 West North Avenue, and robbed four men and the business, Chicago police said.

A CPD surveillance camera team saw the robbers leaving the store, but ground units did not arrive quickly enough to apprehend the crew.

Finally, two robbers pushed a cashier to the floor and forced him to the back of R&S Discount Food and Wines, 2425 West Diversey, around 10:25 p.m. They took money and the man’s phone, then fled, a police report said.

Police believe two or three men were involved. They were described as black, 20 to 25 years old, 5’3″ to 6’2″ tall, and 160 to 180 pounds. The group wore black ski masks, black hoodies, black sweatpants, and white gloves, the CPD alert said.

Earlier incidents

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