CPD issues community alert after string of armed robberies across city

Jordan Anderson, Chicago Tribune
Updated ·4 min read
15

The Chicago Police Department has issued a community alert for residents of the 11th, 12th, 14th, 17th and 25th districts following a spree of armed robberies.

The Monday alert warns residents in those districts of several related robberies that occurred in early December in the early morning hours. Eight more robberies took place early Monday morning, but police are still investigating the incidents and have not confirmed if they are related.

The string of 14 robberies described in the community alert took place on Dec. 2 and Dec. 4 between 12:45 and 2:45 a.m. Police asked residents to be aware of their surroundings and pay attention to suspicious individuals or vehicles in the area.

The alert notified residents of the following incidents:

  • 2100 block of West Cullerton Street on Dec. 2 at 12:45 a.m.

  • 2600 block of West Iowa Street on Dec. 2 at 1 a.m.

  • 900 block of North Western Avenue on Dec. 2 at 1:05 p.m.

  • 800 block of North Rockwell Street on Dec. 2 at 1:19 a.m.

  • 3400 block of West Armitage Avenue on Dec. 2 at 1:21 a.m.

  • 3600 block of West Shakespeare Avenue on Dec. 2 at 1:25 a.m.

  • 3400 block of West Irving Park Road on Dec. 2 at 1:39 a.m.

  • 4000 block of West Wellington Avenue on Dec. 2 at 1:40 a.m.

  • 3100 block of North Pulaski Road on Dec. 2 at 2-2:30 a.m.

  • 4000 block of West Fullerton Avenue on Dec. 2 at 2:10 a.m.

  • 1000 block of North Spaulding Avenue on Dec. 4 at 2 a.m.

  • 900 block of North Damen Avenue on Dec. 4 at 2:10 a.m.

  • 1500 block of West Augusta Boulevard on Dec. 4 at 2:15 a.m.

  • 3000 block of West Palmer Boulevard on Dec. 4 at 2:45 a.m.

The report states offenders implied a “threatening use of force” with handguns to demand personal belongings from victims. After taking the items, the offenders fled from the scene in a vehicle. In three incidents, the armed offenders used a firearm to strike victims on the head, according to the report.

Another eight robberies followed early Monday morning in Logan Square and West Town. In the earliest report, three men emerged from a sedan and robbed a woman at gunpoint in the 1600 block of North Hermitage Avenue around 5:20 a.m., according to a preliminary Chicago police report.

Upward of four individuals were involved in the robberies. Several incidents involved a “gray car” or a “dark-color vehicle.”

Police Sgt. Rocco Aliato shared the following information about the other seven robberies with the Tribune:

  • Three men emerged from a dark-color sedan and robbed a woman at gunpoint in the 1600 block of North Hermitage Avenue around 5:20 a.m.

  • Four gunmen robbed a man in the 1600 block of North Damen Avenue around 5:22 a.m., taking his wallet and power tools. They fled in a gray car that had a trash bag over a broken rear side window, a report said.

  • Two men emerged from a gray car and robbed a group of people at a bus stop on the corner of Ashland and North avenues around 5:25 a.m. Two of those victims, both women, called the police after they arrived at work in the West Loop.

  • Another victim was robbed at gunpoint in the 2200 block of North Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square around 5:35 a.m. Two offenders came out of a dark-color vehicle.

  • A male victim was seated in a work truck in the 600 block of North Western Avenue at 5:40 a.m. Two offenders got out of a dark-color vehicle and attempted to take the victim’s property at gunpoint but fled without taking anything.

  • Two people were robbed at gunpoint in the 2000 block of North Milwaukee Avenue around 5:40 a.m. Three offenders got out of a dark-color vehicle and demanded their property.

  • Around 6:29 a.m., a man was robbed at gunpoint in the 1700 block of North Western Avenue. They took his wallet and cellphone then threw the phone back at the victim.

In a separate robbery, on the 4700 block of West Arthington Street at 5:53 a.m. Monday, three men confronted a 56-year-old man in his car in an attempt to rob him. One of the individuals got out of the vehicle, pointed a firearm and demanded his belongings.

The victim fired several rounds at the offenders. The men attempted to flee in their vehicle but crashed nearby. One man suffered a gunshot wound to the head, another was shot in the shoulder and a third sustained a broken leg in the crash. The victim was not injured.

CPD has since identified the men and charges are pending, according to a police report.

Police could not confirm whether the incident was connected to the other robberies that took place Monday morning.

CPD also said detectives are continuing to investigate the robberies on Monday and cannot yet confirm if they were tied to the Dec. 2 and Dec. 4 incidents.