CHICAGO — Armed robbers shot and critically injured a woman in Avondale on Saturday afternoon as they went on an hours-long crime spree stretching from Austin to Irving Park, according to Chicago police.
The woman, 39, was parked in the 2900 block of North Ridgeway when four men approached her car around 1:36 p.m. Police said one of the robbers pulled out a gun and fired shots at the woman, striking her in the neck. She was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition.
In a bulletin about the offenders, police said the crew committed 12 more robberies on Saturday morning. Each time, they jumped out of vehicles and pointed weapons at the victims, some of whom were waiting for rides to work. Police said the group was armed with pistols, rifles, and knives.
“This is a robbery, give me everything you got,” one of the robbers demands, according to CPD. After getting cash, wallets, passports, purses, credit cards, and other valuables, the crew moved on to commit more crimes.
In addition to the shooting, police linked the group to robberies in the following locations:
- 1600 block of North Linder Ave at 6:05 a.m.
- 1700 block of North Lotus Ave at 6:10 a.m.
- 4200 block of West Armitage Ave at 6:15 a.m.
- 2300 block of North Springfield Ave at 10:00 a.m.
- 2800 block of North Harding Ave at 10:20 a.m.
- 2300 block of North Lawndale Ave at 10:33 a.m.
- 2000 block of North Campbell Ave at 11:50 a.m.
- 2600 block of North Mozart St at 12:03 p.m.
- 3000 block of North Spaulding Ave at 12:07 p.m.
- 4800 block of West Hutchison Ave at 1:14 p.m.
- 3700 block of West George St at 1:30 p.m.
- 2700 block of North Lawndale Ave at 1:40 p.m.
CPD said the group also committed another robbery in Avondale on Thursday. That was in the 2600 block of West Fletcher around 7:41 p.m.
The bulletin described them as four or five Black men between 18 and 30 years old wearing black ski masks, black jogging pants or black jeans, and black hoodies. They stand 5’10” to 6 feet tall and weigh 150 to 180 pounds.
Area Five detectives are handling the investigation. Their number is 312-746-7394.
CPD has warned about at least seven other robbery crews that detectives believe are actively working neighborhoods sweeping from the Eisenhower Expressway to Rogers Park.
Previous coverage:
- Armed men robbed 4 in 90-minute spree from Old Town to Portage Park, Chicago police say (March 16, 2024)
- Bucktown robbery crew caught on camera, shaking down victim in the middle of North Avenue (March 13, 2024)
- Chicago cops hunt robbery crew that committed 8 holdups in 93 minutes (March 12, 2024)
- At least 3 robbery crews are working Chicago streets, police warn (March 12, 2024)
- Active CTA robbery crew may be as young as 13, Chicago police say (March 9, 2024)
Original reporting you’ll see nowhere else, paid for by our readers. Click here to support our work.
