Armed robbers target 4 victims on North, West sides in less than an hour: Chicago police

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Some residents in Lincoln Park said they're going about their day with heightened concern for their safety after an armed robbery spree in which a group of suspects targeted people just walking down the sidewalk.

"You wake up every morning, watch the news, and look at the map and see where it is. And now, since I live in Lakeview, do the math and think, 'How close is this to my house?'" said Matt Dayton.

Four robberies happened in less than an hour on the North and West sides on Sunday night, Chicago police said. One of the victims said this was the second time she has been robbed.

"A white SUV was going extremely quickly westbound, and they ended up going into the wrong lane, and I knew exactly what was going to happen," armed robbery victim Maria said. "Three guys got out. At least one, maybe two had guns."

Maria said she and her boyfriend were walking home from a concert at the Salt Shed when the thieves quickly got out of their car, in the 600 block of West Armitage Avenue, and robbed them.

"At least one - maybe two of them - had guns. I had a purse," she said. "They took my purse. They told my boyfriend to get down. They went through his pockets, we complied."

The thieves got away with their phones and wallets.

"I knew that I wasn't going to fight," Maria said.

Three other robberies involving suspects in a white SUV happened just farther down the block on Armitage, and on Halsted and Hubbard:

• 900 block of West Armitage Avenue at about 11 p.m.

• 1700 block of West Hubbard Street at about 11:15 p.m.

• 1400 block of North Halsted Street at about 11:40 p.m.

Not long after Maria's encounter, an officer got eyes on the suspected robbers heading south on Halsted. In his unmarked police vehicle, the officer followed the car for miles, repeatedly radioing for backup.

"I've got my lights activated, squad," the officer can be heard saying on scanner traffic. "It'd be great if I could get some help. I'm all by myself."

Police said the suspects eventually bailed out near 15th and Drake, nearly 9 miles southwest of the epicenter of robberies around Lincoln Park.

Alderman Brian Hopkins, who chairs the city council's public safety committee, says communication and technology could help almost instantly.

"He didn't have the support he needed. If he did, we could have made arrests last night," Hopkins said. "Better use of license plate reading technology, better use of aerial surveillance."

Residents say they're troubled by the crime spree.

"Unfortunately, lately, not surprised," Lincoln Park resident Carly Carynski said. "But, it's still scary, and it makes you feel unsafe to be in the neighborhood, which is really sad."

Carynski said her husband was also nearly carjacked on Armitage. As someone who works late at night, she'd like to see a stronger police presence to protect the vulnerable.

"Living in any major city, unfortunately crime is part of it," she said. "So you just have to be aware, it just seems like we have to be hyper vigilant about what's going on lately."

Lakeview resident Rose Rebollar also weighed in.

"We have to depend on our aldermen and police, and attend some of these meetings to see what people are suggesting to do about it," Rebollar said.

Alderman Timmy Knudsen, who represents the 43rd Ward, said his office is calling on Mayor Brandon Johnson and the soon-to-be-confirmed police superintendent to address incidents, which include robberies of DePaul University students over the weekend.

"My office has been in constant contact with the Chicago Police Department and has requested an increase in police resources in the area," Knudsen said in statement, in part.

Police have not said if the robberies are connected.

No one was injured and no one is in custody, police said.

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