At least 4 Chicago businesses robbed overnight
CHICAGO (CBS) — Chicago police are investigating a string of armed robberies targeting multiple businesses overnight, including one in which a suspect threatened an employee with a hammer.
Police said there were at least four armed robberies at businesses across the city in about three hours.
It started around 9:45 p.m. Monday when a man armed with a steel hammer walked into a business in the 100 block of South Halsted Street and threatened to attack an employee. The robber then stole several items from the shelf and ran down Halsted Street.
Around 10 p.m., two men entered a business in the 4500 block of North Kedzie Avenue and robbed the store at gunpoint before driving off in a light-colored sedan.
Shortly before 10:30 p.m., two men with guns walked into a business in the 3300 block of West Lawrence Avenue and announced a robbery. Police said they ran off when a security guard opened the back door and startled them.
Around 12:45 a.m. Tuesday, a man walked into a business in the 4300 block of South Ashland Avenue and distracted an employee by offering to buy something, then pulled out a gun and robbed the store.
No one was in custody in the robberies, and police have not said whether they are connected.
As of May 1, there have been 1,408 armed robberies in Chicago this year, with only 49 arrests.