String of robberies hit West Side neighborhood

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Residents are being warned after three armed robberies occurred in the last week on the city's West Side.

Lotus and Linder avenues in Humboldt Park are quiet and well-maintained, but police said the neighborhood is on the radar of thieves. The first robbery occurred on just after 1 a.m. July 12 in the 1700-block of North Lotus, police said. The second was at 2 a.m. Thursday in the 1790-block of North Linder. The next day, just after 2 a.m. thieves hit the 1600-block of North Linder.

"Oh, I'm scared," said resident Darrell Hull. "I'm scared for me, my family. I have kids of my own and this block is a people family block. It's like our piece of paradise in a place of destruction."

Police said the suspect used a bike to approach the victims in two of the incidents, was on foot the third time and always used a semi-automatic handgun and demanded cell phones, wallets and jewelry.

Longtime residents said it's not surprising that people are desperate enough to rob.

"It really doesn't surprise me because really there's a lot of poverty," said Lamont Lamb, who lives in the neighborhood. "You know there's a lot of people without jobs. You know some people just imagine they do what they can."

Resident Anna Koelsche, who just got her bike stolen this morning, said she doesn't go out at night.

"I have a young son so I'm not up late at night," Koelsche said. "It does get a little hectic here at night."