Logan Square robberies, kidnapping lead to alert

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Police believe the same couple carried out two armed robberies in Logan Square just two days apart. In both cases, women were held at gunpoint; in the first case, the victim was kidnapped and driven to Indiana.

In the first attack, a man and woman approached the victim in the 2400 block of North Fairfield Avenue around 11:10 p.m. on October 22, 2015. They pointed a gun, demanded money and then forced her into a car and drove her to several ATMs to withdraw money, police said. She was released without being physically harmed in Hammond, Ind.

Two days later, a woman was approached by what appear to be the same offenders in the 2400 block of North Richmond Street near North Milwaukee Avenue. The offenders tried to force the woman into their vehicle, but she got away, police said. Witnesses, who did not want to be identified, said they heard a woman yelling "help" and "assault." When they looked outside, they saw a man wearing a hood standing over the woman. He had a gun to her head, they said.

The second victim, who told witnesses she had just taken a self-defense class, fought the man off by kicking him in the groin. She also said she was wearing ear buds and distracted by her phone when she was attacked, they said.

"It's a different time when people are distracted by their devices. I feel like that makes a big difference. I see people walking around all the time totally unaware, Jilian Matson said. "You have to be careful. It's a city. Everybody should be on alert. I don't think everyone should walk around in fear, but be smart in the city."

Police issued an alert after the armed robberies. Mel Becker Solomon no longer walks alone in the neighborhood.

"Now, I have my husband meet me at the train if it's after dark, and pick me up. I never walk alone in the neighborhood," Solomon said.

The male suspect was described as an African American man between the ages of 18 and 27. He is between 5 ft. 7 in. and 5 ft. 9 in. tall and weighs around 135 pounds. He has brown eyes, short black hair and a dark complexion. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and jeans that were blue or black.

The female suspect was described as an African American woman between the ages of 18 and 20. She is about 5 ft. 9 in. tall and weighs around 200 pounds. She has brown eyes, straight black hair and a medium complexion. She was wearing a gray baseball cap, a black hooded sweatshirt and black leggings.

Police said the suspects had a chrome handgun and drove a dark sedan, possibly a Toyota or Pontiac Grand Prix.

Anyone with information regarding the robberies or kidnapping should contact Area North detectives at (312) 744-8263.