String of armed robberies reported in downtown Chicago overnight
CHICAGO (CBS) — A 66-year-old woman was dragged into the street and robbed in Streeterville early Thursday during a string of brazen armed robberies in downtown Chicago and the West Loop.
All five of the robberies happened in less than an hour. In each case, the victims were just walking on a sidewalk when they were attacked.
The first robbery happened around 12:15 a.m. in the 500 block of South Racine Avenue, where three men were walking on the sidewalk when police said two men walked up and robbed them at gunpoint.
Then, shortly before 12:30 a.m., police said a 66-year-old woman was walking on the 600 block of North Fairbanks Court when two men with guns approached her. One of them fired several shots, while the other dragged her into the street before she let go of her belongings.
The robbers then got into a car and drove off.
A man who works as a valet driver in Streeterville said he heard four gunshots.
"I think they shot in the air," he said. "I think shot in the sky way."
The woman was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition.
A couple minutes after that robbery, in the 700 block of South Clark Street, police said two people were walking on the sidewalk, when two robbers approached and held them up at gunpoint. One of the robbers hit a 46-year-old woman on the top of the head with his gun when she resisted. She refused medical attention.
A short time later, in the 200 block of East Randolph Street, police said two adults were walking on the sidewalk, when two gunmen got out of a car and robbed them at gunpoint. One of the robbers hit one of the victims, a 36-year-old, in the cheek with his gun. That victim refused medical attention. The second victim, a 34-year-old woman, wasn't hurt.
Finally, shortly before 1 a.m., outside the Hyatt Regency Chicago, in the 100 block of East Wacker Drive, three people were walking on the sidewalk when two gunmen got out of a car and robbed them. A 28-year-old woman was hit in the head, and a 25-year-old man suffered cuts to his hand and knee. Both were taken to Northwestern. A 28-year-old man wasn't hurt.
No one was in custody in any of the robberies as of Thursday afternoon, and police have not said if the robberies are connected.
Police had only a vague description of the robbers, who were wearing dark-colored hooded sweatshirts and black ski masks. The vehicle used is described as a silver 4-door sedan, with a dark-colored painted passenger door.
Area 3 detectives were investigating.