Chicago police issue alert of 7 armed robberies within an hour on South, Southwest Sides
CHICAGO (CBS) – Chicago police issued a warning for residents following yet another string of armed robberies, this time on the city's South and Southwest Sides -- all in broad daylight.
The robberies happened Friday morning within an hour between 6:40 and 7:40 a.m. in the Brighton Park, Gage Park, Englewood, and Back of the Yards neighborhoods.
Police said five offenders would approach the victims while displaying handguns and demand their property. Some reports came in just minutes apart from each other and are part of a string of strong armed robberies likely linked to the same crew.
Incident times and locations:
- 4400 block of South Maplewood Avenue at 7:12 a.m.
- 5500 block of South Albany Avenue at 6:40 a.m.
- 2400 block of West 50th Street at 7:10 a.m.
- 4500 block of South Fairfield Avenue at 7:00 a.m.
- 1000 block of West 48th Street at 7:30 a.m.
- 5600 block of South Morgan Street at 7:40 a.m.
- 2500 block of West 50th Street at 7:12 a.m.
The offenders were described as African American males 16-20 years old, between 5 feet 2 inches and 6 feet tall, wearing black ski masks, and dark clothing. Police say at least one of the robbers was wearing a Looney Tunes t-shirt. They were last seen driving a white Hyundai Tucson with Arizona plates.
But when CBS 2 went to investigate, there was a new crime scene starting to take shape.
Pastor Donovan Price with Solutions and Resources was in the area where two of the robberies happened, near 50th Street in Gage Park. He said he was in the area because of a shooting. Police reported a 28-year-old woman was shot in the abdomen around 3:15 p.m. by an unknown offender.
"Whatever you can do, now is the time to do it," Price said. "It is all hands on deck."
Price said it happened in front of some children.
"Sometimes it makes you want to lose hope or wonder what exactly... get overwhelmed by what is going on, but we know we can't lose hope. We gotta keep fighting," he said.
Price said he had heard about the robberies and does not want people to write off certain streets or neighborhoods.
"It can happen anywhere," he said. "So don't think that you are better or your neighborhood is better. It hsppened everywhere. And maybe we all need to come together. Maybe that's a sign of all of this."
Price walked away unable to reach the victim's family, leaving police and their cameras still watching over the crime scene.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bureau of Detectives – Area One at 312-747-8384.