Police: Robbers using app to meet victims on West Side

SUN-TIMES MEDIA WIRE - Chicago Police are warning of robbers who use a phone app to arrange to meet people to sell cellphones, then rob the victims at gunpoint in the West Garfield Park neighborhood.

The robberies happened at 8:15 p.m. Nov. 2, and 7:20 p.m. Nov. 3, according to a community alert from Area North detectives.

The victims use an app to arrange to meet someone to buy a cellphone in the 300 block of North Karlov, police said. When the victims arrive, the suspects get into their vehicles, pull a handgun and steal their phones, money and laptops.

One of the suspects was described as a black man 21-25, 6-foot and 120-130 pounds with a tattoo above his right eye, police said. Another suspect was described as a black man 20-22, 6-foot-2 to 6-foot-3, and 120-130 pounds with dreadlocks.

Anyone with information about the robberies is asked to call detectives at (312) 744-8263.