Police: Several Women Robbed, Sexually Attacked On West Side Since Late August
UPDATED 10/07/11 5:36 a.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Police are warning residents to be on the lookout, after a series of attacks on women on the city's West Side.
As CBS 2's Susanna Song reports, the robberies and assaults have been happening between 3 and 6 a.m. along a broad area of the West Side, from the area around the United Center west to the Austin neighborhood.
Harrison Area detectives said the string of armed robberies began in late August. The latest incident occurred on Sunday in the 900 block of North Leamington Avenue, police said.
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One young man told CBS 2 his sister was recently dragged into an alley.
"Somebody grabbed her from behind so she couldn't see him, and dragged her to a dark spot, and the rest speaks for itself," the man said.
In each case, he man approaches female victims as they are walking, parking their cars or entering their homes. He takes out a gun and demands their personal property, including purses, money, jewelry and cell phones, the alert said.
"He had her eyes and mouth covered," the victim's brother said.
During the robbery, the man sexually abuses or assaults the victim before fleeing, the alert said.
"She's still living, but you can't come back from something like that, you know?" the brother told CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli. "I felt helpless that I couldn't help her."
Ayiesha Baker lives in the block of Leamington Avenue where one of the attacks occurred. She says she'll follow the advice of police and avoid traveling alone in the predawn hours.
"I need to stay in the house now since I found out and watch my back," she said.
The attacks have happened between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. in the Monroe, Harrison and Austin police districts, which encompass the United Center Park, Austin, Humboldt Park, Lawndale and Garfield Park neighborhoods.
The suspect is black, in his 20s or 30s, 5-foot-5 to 6 feet and 130 to 170 pounds. He wears a black skull cap or a ski mask, a black jacket or sweater and black jeans during the attacks.
Women are advised to be aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious persons loitering near their home. Other advice police offered: Travel in groups at night and in the early morning hours; make sure exterior lights are working, and have a family member or friend meet and escort you to your destination.
Anyone with information should call detectives at (312) 746-8253.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
