Street vendors demand more police patrols after being targeted by robbers on Northwest Side
CHICAGO - Chicago police are looking for multiple suspects in a string of armed robberies that happened within minutes of each other on the Northwest Side.
The robbers targeted several street vendors. On Saturday, these vendors and neighbors gathered to demand more police protection.
Shared below are the times and locations of the armed robberies:
- 8:45 a.m., Feb. 16 in the 3300 block of West Armitage Avenue
- 8:46 a.m., Feb. 16 in the 3300 block of North Milwaukee Avenue
- 8:55 a.m., Feb. 16 in the 3300 block of West Fullerton Avenue
- 8:56 a.m., Feb. 16 in the 3300 block of West Fullerton Avenue
- 9:00 a.m., Feb. 16 in the 4800 block of West Dakin Street
- 9:30 a.m., Feb. 16 in the 2600 block of North Parkside Avenue
Police believe there are two to five suspects between the ages of 15 and 25.
All of them were wearing black ski masks, black joggers, black jeans, black hoodies and white gloves during the robberies. They were also armed with black handguns with extended magazines.
The suspects were traveling in a gray Jeep Cherokee and demanded personal property from their victims, such was wallets, flowers, credit cards, cash, purses, etc., according to officials.
In one of the incidents, police say the suspects pistol-whipped a victim, causing head injuries that required medical treatment.
In another one of the robberies, the suspects told the victims, "give us your money" and "we know you got money."
Residents and businesses in the area are urged to be more vigilant and cautious of their surroundings.
If you witness suspicious behavior, call 911 immediately. Anyone with more information on these incidents is urged to call CPD's Bureau of Detectives - Area 5 at 312-746-7394.