An armed robbery crew is targeting victims and, in some cases, kidnapping them at gunpoint in some of Chicago’s most popular nightlife districts, including River North, Wrigleyville, and Boystown, according to Chicago police. At least 12 victims have been targeted since April 5, with robbers stealing their phones and draining their bank accounts through financial apps.
In each case, victims were approached by the robbers, who took their phones and other property by force or at gunpoint. After stealing the phones, the offenders used them to conduct unauthorized financial transactions, police said. In four of the incidents, victims were forced into the crew’s vehicle and driven around while the group carried out fraudulent banking transactions on their phones.
CPD said the earliest robbery linked to the pattern occurred in the 100 block of West Ontario Street at 12:35 a.m. on April 5.
Four of the robberies occurred in the 3500 block of North Clark Street in Wrigleyville: at 12:22 a.m. on April 22; 11:30 p.m. on May 2; 1 a.m. on May 3; and 10 p.m. on May 4.
Two occurred in the first block of West Hubbard Street: at 2:30 a.m. on April 26 and between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. on May 10.
CPD also linked the robbery crew to holdups in these locations:
- the 200 block of East Ohio Street on April 18 between 3:30 a.m. and 3:45 a.m.
- the 3700 block of North Broadway on April 23 at 9:30 p.m.
- the 600 block of North Dearborn Street on April 26 at 2:30 a.m.
- the 600 block of North Wabash Avenue on May 3 at 3 a.m.
- the 400 block of North Clark Street on May 8 at 1 a.m.
The police bulletin described the robbers as up to three Black males standing between 5-foot-6 and 6-foot-5 and weighing 140 to 210 pounds. They used a dark-colored SUV, a silver four-door sedan, and a dark-colored four-door sedan in some of the robberies, police said.
Anyone with information about the crimes can contact Area Three detectives at 312-744-8263 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com, referencing crime pattern #P26-3-015.
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