Chicago police: Robbers target liquor stores, bar in West Town robbery spree

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Robbers targeted at least two liquor stores and a bar on Chicago's Wicker Park and Ukrainian Village neighborhoods Sunday night, police said.

The first robbery took place at Division Liquors in the 1700-block of West Division Street at about 10:25 p.m.

Surveillance cameras captured the entire incident. Two armed men storm into the building. One darts behind the counter, while the other grabs a male employee by the neck and strips everything from his pockets.

"They say, 'Don't move. If you move we shoot you,'" said Alexandra Pazmino, clerk at Division Liquors.

Pazmino was behind the counter for the robbery. In the video she appears to remain remarkably calm with the threat of a gun in front of her.

"I'm calmed down because the owner told me before, 'If something happens do whatever they want. Don't do nothing wrong because it's your life,'" she said.

In two short minutes, Pazmino calmly opened both cash registers. One man, wearing gloves, a hood and a mask, grabs handfuls of cash, rifles under the counter and finally snags a small safe, which he tosses in its entirety over the country toward his waiting accomplice. He also grabbed Pazmino's purse before they both sprint out.

Inside, she said, was a month's worth of her salary to send to her son in Canada, and everything else she needs.

"They took my papers, I have nothing," Pazmino said. "I don't have IDs, credit card, debit card, I have nothing. Any money. I told them, 'Please give me money because I have nothing.'"

It turned out to be their first stop in a series of robberies at West Town bars and liquor stores late Sunday night.

The second robbery took place just five minutes later in the 900-block of North Damen Avenue.

Police said two male suspects armed with handguns walked into Ola's and took money from a cash drawer and robbed patrons in the store before fleeing on food.

Customers said they believe the same guys had shattered the door days earlier trying to get in. the bar has to buzz people in from the inside; Sunday night the robbers snuck in with customers.

"They got everybody and put everybody in the back and robbed everybody," said customer Nick Alvarez.

A third robbery took place at a bar in the 800-block of North Greenview Avenue at the Chipp Inn at about 11:09 p.m.

Police said two male suspects armed with handguns walked into the bar, took the cash drawer and robbed several patrons before fleeing on foot.

Police have not said if the robberies are linked. Area Three detectives are investigating and no one is in custody.