Chicago police are warning North Side pharmacies to be on alert after a man repeatedly jumped pharmacy counters to steal bottles of narcotics, fleeing each time on a black electric scooter.
According to a community alert issued by the department on Sunday afternoon, the thief targeted at least seven pharmacies in October, with incidents stretching from Lakeview to Rogers Park. Police said the man enters each business, leaps over the counter, grabs several bottles of narcotics, and quickly escapes.
The first three thefts occurred on October 1 within a 30-minute span: around 1:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of West Devon Avenue, 1:53 p.m. in the 6500 block of North Sheridan Road, and 2 p.m. in the 5300 block of North Broadway.
Four more thefts followed later in the month. On October 5, the suspect struck around 4:30 p.m. in the 3000 block of North Broadway. On October 22, he hit two locations on the North Side: around 9:47 a.m. in the 1500 block of West Devon Avenue and at 10:20 a.m. in the 5600 block of North Ridge.
He struck again in the 1500 block of West Devon Avenue on October 24 at 1:22 p.m., according to the alert.
Police described the suspect as a man wearing black and white shoes. In some cases, he wore an orange zip-up sweatshirt and has also been seen wearing camouflage pants.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Area Three detectives at 312-744-8263 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com using reference number P25-3-047.
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