Chicago police investigating at least 4 Lincoln Park robberies minutes apart

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Eight women were robbed in Lincoln Park in four separate incidents over a period of less than 15 minutes in the earlier hours of Tuesday morning, Chicago police said.

Police have not said if the robberies are connected.

The first robbery occurred in the 2000-block of North Howe Street at about 12:07 a.m. A 27-year-old man and 26-year-old woman told police two male suspects got out of a white SUV and demanded their belongings.

A second robbery occurred in the 800-block of West Belden Avenue at about 12:15 a.m. A 23-year-old woman told police that she was approached by a male suspect who got out of a silver SUV.

The suspect demanded the victim's belongings and the victim complied.

A third robbery occurred in the 2200-block of North Burling Street at about 12:18 a.m. Police said two 19-year-old women told officers that two male suspects got out of a silver SUV.

The suspects demanded the victims' belongings and they complied, police said.

A fourth robbery occurred at about 12:20 a.m. in the 2200-block of North Geneva Terrace. Three female victims told police that two male suspects got out of a silver SUV and demanded their belongings.

The victims complied and the suspects got back in the SUV and fled the scene, police said. One of the women fell during the incident and was transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital in good condition.

It's the latest crime spree to hit the neighborhood in recent weeks.

"If we go out at night we take taxis and Ubers. In the daytime we feel fine," said Melissa Breen, former Lincoln Park resident.

Breen and Steve Eckert moved to California, but they are spending the summer in their home of many years in Lincoln Park. They said coming back feels different

"Chicago's got a problem. What are people going to do? You come to Chicago for the night life and you can't walk. You can't walk to the Kingston Mines to hear some blues and come back. I mean, I would do it, but I would be more wary than in the old days," Eckert said.

Before last night there have been at least 14 separate robberies in Lincoln Park since June1. So far no one has been seriously injured.

CPD said the vast majority of the crimes have taken place between 11:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. on residential streets that lie directly off main business corridors like Armitage and Halsted.

Alderman Timmy Knudsen, who represents the 43rd Ward, said he's looking to whoever becomes the city's next police superintendent to provide his ward with more consistent patrols.

"I just want as much patrol as we can get. Understanding that the 18th district is an understaffed district. We've asked for foot patrol. We've asked for bike patrol. And we know that our police officers had their days off cancelled and there are officers working hard today and we're trying to get them to that area," he said.

No one is in custody in connection with any of the robberies and Area Three detectives are investigating.