Rash Of Strong-Arm Robberies Reported On Southwest Side
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Residents of the city's Southwest Side are being urged to keep alert, after a string of strong-arm robberies in the area.
Police have issued an alert detailing at least four muggings in the area within the last month. They say a man and woman have been acting as a team in some instances, but they have also worked alone.
The first mugging took place around 6 p.m. March 24 in the 5400 block of South Spaulding Avenue. The duo later approached another victim on April 2 in the 5800 block of South Homan Avenue about 8:05 p.m.
Two days later, the muggers struck again in the 5200 block of South Pulaski Road about 3:20 p.m. The most recent mugging took place in the 6500 block of South Pulaski Road on April 14 about 3:30 p.m.
The victims were approached and asked if they knew someone named "Maria" or "Jennifer." Then they robbed the victims.
Police described the male mugger as 17 to 28 years old, 5 feet 7 to 6 feet tall and 150 to 180 pounds. He is white Hispanic with hazel eyes and short black hair.
The female mugger is between 17 to 20 years old, 5 feet 3 to 5 feet 8 inches tall and 115 to 130 pounds. She has brown eyes and brown or black hair.
Meanwhile, police are also warning of a separate string of muggings by two men a short distance farther southwest.
Those robberies happened in the 6300 block of South Kildare Avenue. The first robbery took place on April 7 about 3 p.m., and the latest mugging occurred April 14 about 12:20 p.m.
One of the muggers is described by police as a white Hispanic man who is 20 to 22 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall and 130 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair.
The other man is a white Hispanic man between 20 to 28 years old, 6 feet tall and 200 to 220 pounds. He has brown eyes, black hair and possibly a tattoo on his neck, police said.
Anyone with information on the muggings can contact Area Central detectives as (312) 747-8382.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
