At least 12 victims robbed at gunpoint across Chicago, including DePaul students
CHICAGO (CBS) – At least a dozen people were robbed at gunpoint on the city's North, Northwest, and West sides and downtown overnight Saturday into Sunday.
As CBS 2's Shardaa Gray reported, sources said some of the victims were students at DePaul University.
"It's sad that that's the reality we're living in right now, but you have to be cautious," said Jack Burns of Lincoln Park.
It is a crime we have reported on time and time again and a reality with which we have become all too familiar - suspects jumping out of a car robbing people at gunpoint.
"It's concerning," Burns said. "I think safety is something people take for granted until it's them or someone they know that's a victim of it."
Chicago Police said around 2 a.m. Sunday, a man and woman – both 19 – were walking in the 2200 block of North Racine Avenue, near Webster Avenue, when a car with four robbers inside approached them.
Police said they were dressed in black clothing. One had a handgun, and they demanded the woman's property.
When the woman refused, police said the suspect hit her on the forehead with the gun before taking both of their belongings.
The woman was taken to the hospital where she was treated. Our sources told us those victims are DePaul students.
"It's sad. I think people like Lincoln Park because it's a safe neighborhood - at least that's been the perception for a long time," said Burns. "But yeah, like you said, this weekend; the weekend before -- I mean, I think things are roughly trending in the wrong direction."
Last weekend, three robberies were reported on DePaul University's Lincoln Park campus.
"You absolutely have to be vigilant," Burns said.
The list of armed robberies continues to grow.
The first robbery in the rash of incidents happened around 8:02 p.m., in the 1700 block of North Maplewood Avenue in Logan Square, where police said a 25-year-old man was delivering food when three to four males exited a dark-colored sedan and took his phone and wallet at gunpoint.
The victim refused EMS after being struck in the face with a handgun.
Minutes later around 8:16 p.m., in the 1700 block of North Rockwell Street just half a block to the west, a 24-year-old man was delivering food when six males exited a blue SUV and a silver sedan and took his phone at gunpoint. The victim was not injured.
In addition to the robbery on Racine Avenue near DePaul, numerous other robberies followed between 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 4:30 a.m. Sunday. Each of those victims was either standing or walking on the sidewalk when they were approached and also robbed of their wallets and cell phones.
Among the other incidents Saturday night into Sunday morning were the following:
- At 10:30 p.m., in the 3000 block of North Tripp Avenue, a 20-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were walking on the sidewalk when three males exited a silver Hyundai SUV and took a cell phone and purse at gunpoint. Both victims were not injured.
- At 11:25 p.m., in the 800 block of North Leavitt Street, a 22-year-old woman was walking on the sidewalk when three males exited a vehicle and took her phone at gunpoint. The victim refused EMS after being struck in the head with a handgun.
- At 11:41 p.m., in the 300 block of North Leavitt Street, a 40-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman were walking on the sidewalk when three males exited a silver Hyundai SUV and took a wallet and cell phones at gunpoint. The victims were not injured.
- At 2:30 a.m., in the 1800 block of West Fullerton Avenue, a 40-year-old woman was standing on the sidewalk when three males exited a black sedan and took her backpack, phone, and wallet at gunpoint. The victim was taken to Ill Masonic in good condition with a head injury.
- At 2:30 a.m., in the 500 block of South Wells Street, two 25-year-old women were walking on the sidewalk when six males exited a tan sedan and took their purses at gunpoint. The victims were not injured.
- At 4:10 a.m., in the 1000 block of West 16th Street, two men, 28 and 30, were walking on the sidewalk when four males exited a gray Nissan sedan and took their phones and wallets at gunpoint. The victims were not injured.
"I hope it's, you know, an issue that we can get under control here," Burns said.
No arrests were made in any of the robberies. Police are investigating.
This past Thursday Chicago Police investigated at least 10 armed robberies committed within an hour. They stretched from the Loop to the North Side -a and included the violent robbery of a 78-year-old man, which was caught on camera.
, Chicago Police investigated at least 10 armed robberies committed within an hour. They stretched from the Loop to the North Side -a and included the violent robbery of a 78-year-old man, which was caught on camera.