CHICAGO — Armed robbers are targeting food delivery drivers on the Near West Side, with four food runners being targeted in the first five days of the New Year, according to Chicago police. CPD says DoorDash, Uber Eats, and local pizza shop drivers have fallen victim to the robbers.
The robbers order food and then wait for the driver to show up. Once the delivery driver gets out of their car, two or three men emerge from dark alleys or other unlighted areas and confront the victims, police said. While one robber holds the delivery driver at gunpoint, the others look for valuables in the victim’s pockets.
Detectives have linked four incidents to the crime pattern:
- in the 2100 block of West Van Buren at 3:30 p.m. on January 1 and at 8:20 p.m. on January 4
- in the 300 block of South Leavitt at 6 p.m. on January 5
- in the 2100 block of West Gladys at 11 p.m. on January 5
CWBChicago, citing a preliminary police report, reported on January 6 that the driver robbed on Leavitt was on a video call with his wife when three robbers attacked him and took his keys and phone. The victim told police he believed he pepper-sprayed at least two of the suspects.
Police described the robbers as Black males between 16 and 23 years old who wore black hoodies, black ski masks, and black pants.
Anyone with information about the crimes can contact detectives at 312-744-8263 regarding crime pattern #P25-3-002.
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