2 delivery drivers robbed on Northwest Side

CHICAGO -- Delivery drivers on Chicago's Northwest Side are being warned about two recent armed robberies in the early morning hours.

The robberies occurred after midnight over the past two weekends. Those delivery drivers were held up by multiple offenders, as many as five in a group.

The robberies are alarming to those living in this neighborhood of families and small children.

"On an average day, it's kids walking home from school, going to school, and just average working people coming home, so quiet for the most part," said neighborhood resident Lisa Weaver.

"Actually I didn't see the police around. I'm assuming that's because the area is very quiet," neighborhood resident Jose Pallezcho said.

Police say the robbers, as many as five in a group, have struck the past two weekends after midnight, first in the 4100-block of North Marmora on April 25 and then this past Sunday morning in the 4900-block of North Normandy.

"We're trying to eliminate the cash as much as possible, trying to do credit as much as we can, so drivers carry less cash on them, you know.," said Kashif Kaleem, Krispy Krunchy Chicken.

Kaleem owns multiple carry-out and delivery businesses on the Northwest Side and contracts with a third-party for delivery.

His drivers weren't the victims in these latest incidents, but he says he did have one robbed about a month ago.

"We're trying to close the delivery service around 9:00, just so these guys can get home safe. But sometimes they do side jobs, so they get stopped," he said.

Police have only a vague description of the suspects, but in one of the robberies, the offenders were wearing dark sweatshirts and bandanas. It's unclear if these were crimes of opportunity or if those delivery drivers were called to these blocks by the robbers.