Chicago police warn of string of NW carjackings, armed robberies targeting women

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police issued a warning to residents on the city's Northwest Side after a string of robberies and carjackings that appear to target women.

Chicago police said it's still unclear if it's the same group of thieves committing all of the attacks, but there have been nearly half a dozen.

Two incidents happened Monday night within blocks of each other.

Investigators say in each instance, multiple offenders get out of a maroon SUV and approach victims in their cars or on the street. They then pull out a gun and demand the victim's vehicle and other items, along with PIN codes to their cell phones and debit cards.

The Monday night incidents happened in the 1900-block of West Wabansia at around 8 p.m., and then less than an hour later in the 2100-block of West Moffat.

A security camera captured what appears to be the suspect vehicle lying in wait. It doesn't show the actual crime, but you do see the victim's vehicle pass before the alleged suspects carjack her.

"It's upsetting, certainly I hope the police are doing everything they can to mitigate," said resident Kyoko Crawford. "It's actually very alarming, this is pretty residential really nice neighborhood."

"I've always felt the most safe here so it makes me feel uncomfortable and nervous now," said resident Dana West.

City data shows there have been more than 1,300 vehicular hijackings so far this year, up 1/3 from the same period last year.

There were also five armed robberies during the late night and early morning hours since Sept. 3, with the most recent in the 1900-block of West Wabansia. Monday night, just after 8, a 38-year-old woman was robbed at gunpoint of her cell phone and bag of camera equipment.

There are only vague descriptions of the attackers.

Police remind residents to stay alert and be aware of their surroundings.