A file photo shows a crime scene blocked off by the Chicago Police Department. (WTTW News)
Nearly a dozen people were robbed at gunpoint within the span of about an hour overnight across Chicago’s North Side.
According to the Chicago Police Department, there were nine separate armed robberies reported between 12:50 a.m. and 2 a.m. Thursday morning. In each robbery, victims were approached by multiple armed males who took their belongings and then fled in a dark colored sedan.
Police did not say if the incidents were connected.
The first of these robberies occurred at around 12:50 a.m. in the 1900 block of West Wolfram Street, when a 78-year-old man was approached by six individuals who demanded his personal belongings and then struck him multiple times before fleeing. The victim was hospitalized in good condition.
Three of the robberies were reported at around 1 a.m. in the 700 block of West Belmont, 4000 block of North Lincoln and the 2800 block of North Lincoln. Two victims in these incidents — a 32-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man — were struck by the robbers, but declined medical attention.
A 66-year-old man was robbed in the 4400 block of North Lincoln at around 1:18 a.m. and two 28-year-old women were robbed about 10 minutes later in the 1600 block of West Wilson.
Two more women were robbed at around 1:40 a.m. in the 300 block of West Webster. These victims were also struck, but declined medical attention. Minutes later, a 36-year-old man was robbed in the 3000 block of North Clark.
According to Chicago police, a 42-year-old man was also robbed at gunpoint by four males just before 2 a.m. in the 800 block of South Michigan Avenue.
A CPD community alert published Thursday afternoon included an additional robbery, which occurred in the 200 block of West Erie Street at around 1:40 a.m. Police described the suspects as Black males between the ages of 15 and 25, who wear dark clothing and carry black semi-automatic handguns.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact Area Three detectives at 312-742-8263.
Police data shows robbery incidents are up approximately 24% on the year citywide.
Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431
