Chicago police investigating 5 North Side armed robberies within 5 hours

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police are investigating a series of armed robberies on the North Side Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.

Police have not said if any of the five armed robberies are linked.

The five crime scenes happened within just hours of each other

The first robbery occurred in the 2700-bock of North Pine Grove Avenue at about 10 p.m. A 27-year-old man told police he was walking when two armed male suspects approached and demanded his belongings. The suspects were then seen getting into a black vehicle, possibly an Infinity, and fled southbound.

An hour later two incidents happened within just a few minutes in the same manner.

The second robbery occurred at about 11:05 p.m. in the 2300-block of West Ainslie Street. Police said two women, ages 20 and 24, were walking when a silver sedan, possibly a Toyota Prius approached. Three armed male suspects got out of the car and demanded their belongings, police said. The victims complied and the suspects got back in the vehicle and fled southbound in the alley, police said.

"It's the last thing getting home from work at nine or 10 o'clock that I have to worry about looking over my shoulder as I'm grabbing some groceries or taking the kids out of the car. It's a little discomforting," said Brandon Robinson, a Lincoln Square resident for five years.

Then, a block north and 10 minutes later, the third robbery occurred. At about 11:15 p.m. in the 2200-block of West Argyle Street, a 20-year-old man was walking when police said two armed male suspects approached. They demanded the victim get on the ground and took his personal property. The suspects then got into a waiting gray sedan with two other suspects and fled southbound, police said.

As in the other cases, he complied and was robbed of his personal property.

A new homeowner is shocked.

"I had not expected to hear about stick up gangs around here," said Lincoln Square resident Nathan Bobinchak.

"A little scary because I would like to feel safe when I walk -- when I go to the park," said Marleny Herrera, a nanny for new residents of the neighborhood. "Everywhere I would like to go, I would like to be safe."

The fourth robbery occurred at about 1:35 a.m. in the 400-block of West Barry Avenue.

A 19-year-old woman and 20-year-old man told police three male suspects got out of a silver vehicle One suspect displayed a gun and they demanded the victims' belongings.

They victims complied and the suspects got back in the vehicle and fled southbound, police said.

"Lakeview is generally regarded as a pretty safe neighborhood," said Lakeview resident Ben Green. "I mean, I am not generally walking down the street thinking I'm about to be jumped."

The fifth robbery occurred at about 2:30 a.m. in the 7000-block of North Hamilton Avenue.

A 20-year-old man told police he was walking when three male suspects approached. Police said one suspect took out a gun and the other two took the victim's belongings.

The suspects then got into a white sedan, possibly a Toyota Corolla, and fled, police said.

No injuries were reported in any of the robberies. Still though, there is a pattern here that for some people who live on the North Side say is the price for a living in the city.

Area Three detectives are investigating.