More and more delivery drivers are being robbed at gunpoint in Chicago

FOX 32 NEWS - A disturbing trend continues to grow just days before Christmas.

FedEx and UPS drivers are being held up at gun point and robbed while trying to deliver packages. They're trying to get the word out to the community that this is happening on their block.

Community activists, including Andrew Holmes, are knocking on doors in the Fuller Park neighborhood, warning neighbors of armed robbers stealing from FedEx and UPS trucks.

"At any given moment when they're putting this weapon against someone's face, that weapon can easily be discharged and all of a sudden you can lose someone's life," said Holmes. "But, we're trying to prevent that, that's why we're putting this awareness out."

On Monday night, Chicago police said four masked men, at least one armed with a gun, held up a FedEx driver. They stole his truck near 51st and Princeton.

When police found it a short distance away, the entire truck was empty.
               
A UPS driver was also held up just an hour later in 4900 block of Kamerling in  the North Austin neighborhood.

Just this month, the city has seen at least five armed robberies or thefts of delivery trucks.

Incident after incident makes neighborhoods in Fuller Park nervous about what could happen next.

With Christmas just days away, activists are asking people to be vigilant.

"If you know you have a package coming and you're home," added Holmes, "Kind of keep looking out the doors because that will distract that driver in the car and tell the other person, you know, somebody is looking, somebody is calling the police."

The concern now is for the safety of the drivers just trying to make a living.

"If we don't put a stop to it, we'll be back out here talking about, a FedEx driver or UPS driver has been fatally shot. For no reason at all."

Holmes believes an informed community is a safer one.

If you have any information on any of the recent robberies you're asked to call Chicago Police.

FOX 32 reached out to FedEx about the latest robbery. The company said in a statement, "The safety of our employees and service providers is our top priority. We are grateful that the drivers involved in these incidents were unharmed and we are cooperating with the police as they conduct their investigations."