Police warn of armed robberies, sexual assaults on NW Side

CHICAGO -- Police warn of groups of males robbing, and in some cases groping, victims in the North Park and Edgebrook neighborhoods on the Northwest Side.

The suspects walked up to victims and pulled out a blue steel handgun before punching them, Chicago Police said. The suspects then took money, wallets and cellphones from the victims. In two cases, the suspects groped female victims through their clothes.

The incidents happened:

- about 10:20 p.m. Aug. 26 in the 5700 block of North Kimball;

- about 10:30 p.m. Aug. 29 in the 3400 block of West Carmen; and

- about 9:30 p.m. Sept. 1 in the 6400 block of North Hiawatha.

The suspects were described as three to five black males, 14-25 years of age, standing 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-10 and weighing 150-190 pounds, police said. Two possible suspects were seen on the CTA's surveillance footage using a victim's Ventra card.

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call Area North detectives at 312-744-8263.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire - Copyright Chicago Sun-Times 2016.)