East Lakeview Woman: I Was Tricked Into Letting Robber In
UPDATED 08/04/11 9:08 a.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) - A woman says she was tricked into letting a young man into the lobby of her East Lakeview neighborhood residence this week, only to be beaten and robbed by the suspect.
Around 2:40 a.m. Tuesday, the woman was walking and talking on a cell phone in the busy area of Belmont Avenue and Broadway, when a man began chatting her up, police said in a community alert.
The suspect told the woman he was looking for a family member, and persuaded her to let him into her apartment building, police said.
But once inside the lobby of the building, the suspect proceeded to rob and beat the victim, police said.
He is described as an African-American male between the ages of 16 and 23, standing between 5 feet 2 and 5 feet 4 inches tall, and weighing 120 to 140 pounds. The suspect has short hair, a dark complexion and facial hair.
The area around Belmont and Broadway is densely populated and always busy with foot traffic – even in the overnight hours. A 24-hour Walgreens drugstore is among the businesses at the intersection.
Police advise everyone in the neighborhood to be especially vigilant. They also say anyone with information should call Belmont Area detectives at (312) 744-8263.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
