Businesses targeted in series of violent armed robberies, CPD says; pistol whipping caught on camera

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Businesses in Chicago were targeted in a series of armed robberies Tuesday night, some of them violent. In one incident, two customers at a liquor store were pistol whipped - and it was caught on video.

The first robbery occurred in the 1800-block of West 47th Street at about 9:50 p.m. at Bunchanas Liquor.

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Police said three male suspects entered a business and demanded property from an employee. One of the suspects grabbed money from a register and they fled in an unknown direction.

Surveillance video shows three masked men charge into the store. The robbers immediate hit two of the customers with their guns, forcing them to the ground.

The video then shows the three suspects quickly work their way around the store, demanding the clerks to hand over the cash from the register.

The offenders spend several minutes in the store, while the two injured customers remain on the ground. The store clerk was too shaken to speak to ABC7 about the robbery on camera, but said it's frustrating how often this keeps happening.

The second robbery occurred at about 10:09 p.m. at El Trebol Liquors in the 1100-block of West 18th Street.

Police said three suspects entered the business with handguns and demanded the property of an employee and four customers.

The employee was struck in the head with a handgun by one of the suspects, who fled in a silver sedan southbound on May Street, police said.

The employee declined medical attention.

The third robbery occurred at about 10:20 p.m. at a 7-Eleven store in the 2000-block of North Damen Avenue.

Police said three male suspects entered a business with handguns and demanded property from an employee.

One of the suspects grabbed money from a register and the suspects fled south on Damen Avenue.

Meanwhile as those robberies were happening, police said they were called to several locations overnight in the Lincoln Park neighborhood near North Avenue and Clybourn.

Multiple restaurants were burglarized with their front doors smashed including a Sweetgreen, a Potbelly, a Roti Mediterranean and a Burrito Beach.

No one is in custody in connection with any of the robberies. Police have not said if the crimes are connected.

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