2 robbed by group armed with rifles, handguns in Avondale, Chicago police say
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two men were robbed by a group of suspects armed with handguns and rifles on the Northwest Side Thursday morning, Chicago police said.
The two victims were standing on the sidewalk in the 3500-block of West Belmont Avenue at about 3:20 a.m. when police said a black sedan approached and four armed suspects got out.
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The suspects demanded the victims' property and then they fled westbound on Belmont Avenue, police said.
No one was injured and no one is in custody.
The robbery comes amid a CPD alert detailing more than a dozen similar armed robberies over the past week across the North and Northwest sides.
Eleven of these robberies happened Monday in Portage Park, Irving Park, Belmont Cragin, Lakeview and Lincoln Park. Four happened Friday in Goose Island and Lincoln Park.
Those robberies occurred in the:
-1300-block of North Halsted Street, Friday April 12, 2024 in the morning hours
-1800-block of North Halsted Street, Friday April 12, 2024 in the morning hours
-1400-block of North Kingsbury Street, Friday April 12, 2024 in the morning hours
-1600-block of North Sheffield Avenue, Friday April 12, 2024 in the morning hours
-5300-block of West Patterson Avenue, Monday April 15, 2024 in the morning hours
-3200-block of North Keeler Avenue, Monday April 15, 2024 in the morning hours
-2700-block of North Leclaire Avenue, Monday April 15, 2024 in the morning hours
-5100-block of West Barry Avenue, Monday April 15, 2024 in morning hours
-4900-block of West Fletcher Avenue, Monday April 15, 2024 in the morning hours
-2900-block of North Lavergne Avenue, Monday April 15, 2024 in the morning hours
-1400-block of West Cornelia Avenue, Monday April 15, 2024 in the morning hours
-3200-block of North Southport Avenue, Monday April 15, 2024 in the morning hours
-2100-block of North Cleveland Avenue, Monday April 15, 2024 in the morning hours
-800-block of West Armitage Avenue, Monday April 15, 2024 in the morning hours
-2100-block of North Halsted Street, Monday April 15, 2024 in the morning hours
Chicago police say robberies have jumped 18% over the past year, with more than 11,000 in Chicago. Armed robberies are up more than 34%.
Safety officials rolled out a new plan just last week to ramp up the use of technology like license plate readers, police pod cams and the department's helicopter, to counter this type of criminal activity.
"These robberies cause trauma for the victims and fear in our communities. That's why we have a department wide plan to address these crimes. We want everyone in this city to not only feel safe, but to actually be safe," said CPD Supt. Larry Snelling.
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