Chicago police: At least 5 victims targeted in North Side armed robbery spree

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Armed robbers targeted victims walking or biking on the North Side in at least five incidents Tuesday morning, Chicago police said.

All victims were either riding a bike or walking on the sidewalk.

Starting at 12:30 a.m., police said three male suspects in a silver sedan robbed a 53-year-old man walking down the sidewalk in the 1500-block of North Milwaukee Avenue, stealing his cellphone and wallet at gunpoint.

About 30 minutes later, police said three male suspects in a silver sedan forced a 30-year-old woman who was riding her bike off the road in the 2000-block of West Superior Street. They stole her bag and cellphone.

Chicago police issue alert after 19 armed robberies on NW Side

Then, five minutes after that, police said suspects robbed a 36-year-old man walking down the sidewalk in the 1900-block of West Chicago, stealing his cellphone.

At about 1:49 a.m., police said the gunmen robbed a 32-year-old man riding a bicycle in the 3000-block of West Armitage Avenue.

Police said the suspects in a silver sedan forced him off the road before taking his cell phone and backpack.

On that same block less than 10 minutes later, police said a 30-year-old man was riding a bicycle when he was forced off the street by suspects in a silver sedan who robbed him at gunpoint.

Marisol Roman's front door is just steps away from one of the crime scenes.

"We have all these nice condos, everybody's working different hours, so they just figure this is where they can get something, which is sad, very sad," Roman said. "You walk around like me, carrying my iPad. So everybody's walking around with computers, iPads, cell phones. Which is ridiculous, because you could just shut them down. But I guess, they figure it's just quick money."

Several of the victims suffered minor injuries. No one is in custody and Area Three detectives are investigating.

The robbery spree comes after police issued an alert about 19 robberies happening over the weekend, with another robbery in area on Monday.

Tsivia Cohen, who also lives nearby, says her husband was robbed at gunpoint back in October, while walking their dog.

"And he was approached by four very young guys all dressed in black," Cohen said. "Same as last night. They basically took what he had on him, which was his cell phone and 20 bucks. That's it. It was scary, very scary. And it's very upsetting, because it's still happening. And there's been no real change."