6 robbed at knifepoint in 75 minutes on North Side
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Three knife-wielding suspects robbed six people within an hour and 15 minutes Monday on Chicago's North Side, police said. One of those victims was an 8th grader.
Police urged residents of the city's Bucktown, Lincoln Park and Lakeview neighborhoods to stay alert.
In each robbery, police said the three suspects physically restrained their victims and held knife to them as they demanded money, phones and credit cards. Police said they got away in a black Nissan or Honda that was waiting for them.
Here's a list of when and where the robberies occurred:
About 3:45 p.m. in the 1900 block of North Wood Street;
About 3:58 p.m. in the 2500 block of North Greenview Avenue;
About 4:15 p.m. in the 2700 block of North Mildred Avenue;
About 4:50 p.m. in the 3000 block of North Greenview Avenue;
About 4:50 p.m. in the 3000 block of North Ravenswood Avenue; and
About 5:01 p.m. in the 3700 block of North Greenview Avenue.
Three 8th graders who attend St. Josephat School in Lincoln Park were attacked by the group Monday afternoon. School officials said they were on their way to Wrightwood Park on North Greenview Avenue to watch an afterschool cross country practice when they were held up at knifepoint. The men demanded one boy's phone, and the student complied.
None of the students were injured. School officials sent an email out warning parents of what happened.
"Eighth grade is sort of, walk to Barnes and Noble, walk to Starbucks with your friends, hang out, do some homework, gain that independence. That was supposed to start tomorrow and it's just not going to happen," a parent said.
"For somebody to go do that very brazen act right in the middle of the afternoon, and going after three kids who are on their way to after school activities, is just out of control," said Alderman Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward).
The alderman said crimes like these have been happening too often in his ward. Waguespack said he plans to talk to police about more patrols in this area.
The three suspects are described as black males, between 13 and 25 years old, police said. One robber was about 5-foot-5 and 150 pounds, while another was about 6 feet, 180 pounds and wearing a white t-shirt, police said.
Anyone with information on the robberies should call Area North detectives at (312) 744-8263.
