Shots fired, victims pistol-whipped in armed robberies

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Ten people have been victims of armed robberies on the city's North and Northwest sides in the past two weeks, Chicago police said. In one incident, the victim was struck by a bullet in his hand.

Chicago police issued an alert on Monday morning for Lakeview, Wicker Park, Bucktown and Humboldt Park. Officials said in all of the robberies, two or three men approach the victims and rob them. At least one of the offenders has a gun and in several robberies the victims have been pistol-whipped or a shot is fired. In one case, the victim was struck by a bullet in his hand.

"It terrifies me," Rich Williams said. Williams lives near the scene of one of the shootings in a Lakeview alley. John Brady saw one of the robberies.

"As he drove away, the fired a shot at him. I guess he was uninjured, but very unusual for the area," Brady said.

Police believe the same two or three men are behind the robberies. The offenders, all of whom are black, between 5'8 and 6'0 tall, and wearing black hoodies, flee to a getaway car. The getaway cars have been a black Toyota Prius, a red Nissan Altima and a blue vehicle of unidentified make and model.

"We've hired patrols, extra patrols, private security firm at extra hours," Maureen Martino, executive director of Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce, said.

Armed robbery locations and times:

-1200 W WAVELAND, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015 at 12:30 AM

-2934 W BELDEN, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 at 3:55 PM

-3600 N CLARK, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 at 5:00 PM

-1533 N PAULINA, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 at 11:41 PM

-2458 W WABANSIA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26 at 1:30 AM

-2417 N OAKLEY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015 at 1:00 PM

-1221 N HOYNE, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 NOV 15 at 12:05 AM

-1758 W CORTLAND, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015at 12:54 AM

-425 W SURF, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 at 5:50 AM

-2850 N SHERIDAN, FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 at 6:00 AM