A crew of armed robbers targeted a downtown diner and its customers early Thursday, pistol-whipping one man before racing to Logan Square and hitting a convenience store minutes later, according to Chicago police reports.
The robbery spree began about 3:12 a.m. at Griddle 24, 334 West Chicago Avenue. Police said three men entered the restaurant, displayed firearms, and demanded money. The offenders took cash from the register and safe, then robbed people inside the diner of money, phones, and other belongings.
Victims included a 56-year-old man, a 63-year-old man, a 64-year-old man, and an adult woman whose age was not immediately available, according to police. During the robbery, one of the gunmen struck a 23-year-old man in the back of the head with a firearm. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition. No other injuries were reported.
The robbers, described as Black men wearing gray hooded sweatshirts, fled westbound on Chicago Avenue in a black sedan, possibly an Infiniti.
About 15 minutes later, masked men wearing similar clothing entered the 7-Eleven at 2366 North Damen Avenue in Logan Square, according to a preliminary police report.
Investigators said two of the offenders were armed with pistols and a third carried a compact rifle. They demanded money, taking cash from the register and cigarettes from behind the counter before fleeing in the same dark-colored sedan seen leaving Griddle 24 minutes earlier.
Responding officers said it appeared four or five robbers may have been involved in the crimes, including individuals who remained inside the getaway car. No arrests have been announced.
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