Chicago police investigating at least 5 armed robberies in 20 minutes on North Side

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police are investigating at least five armed robberies that took place in less than 20 minutes Thursday night on Chicago's North Side.

Police confirm all the robberies were carried out in a similar fashion.

By about 4:30 a.m. Friday, Chicago police had swarmed a gas station at Halsted and Addison streets in Wrigleyville, and appeared to be focused on a white sedan, which is the same vehicle description provided in a warning of at least four armed robberies on the North Side that appear to be linked.

However, it was not immediately clear if the early Friday morning police activity was connected.

Police said the robberies all happened within a span of about 20 minutes.

The latest happened just before midnight near Roscoe Street and Wolcott Avenue.

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Surveillance video shows one of the incidents. In the video, the thieves pull up to the sidewalk in a white car, one pointing a handgun and another pointing a long gun at people walking on the street.

They demanded their personal property; police said the victims complied and the suspects drove off.

That's the story in the three other incidents: A 61-year-old man was robbed by the same described suspects near Berteau Avenue and Paulina Street.

The other two armed robberies happened right before that near Grace Street and Hoyne Avenue and another on North Leavitt Street.

Personal belongings were taken in each incident.

Police said all the victims in these robberies immediately complied, so no injuries were reported.

"I think it's because it's so brazen and quick, that that's how they're able to get away with it" said Matt Kozlowski, co-owner of Four Moon tavern.

One of the five robberies took place right in front of their doors around 3 a.m.

"He came in and said lock the doors and call police," Kozlowski said. He said he knew one of the victims who appeared to have their phones stolen.

"I'm not a gun owner, I don't like guns. I think guns are a big problem," he said.

One man heard a scream outside his home.

"This one sounded like a lot crazier, and I kind of jumped out of bed. It continued for a couple seconds and died off," Lakeview resident Jacob Munoz-Wurfel said.

In a fifth incident that appeared to involve suspects and a vehicle matching the same description, a 67-year-old man walking home in the 900-block of West Dakin Street about 2:45 a.m. was robbed.

Moments later, police saw the suspects near a white sedan with the man's property, CPD said. Those suspects were taken into custody, and Area Three detectives are investigating.

The owner of a stolen Kia Soul that appears to match the white sedan's description woke up to police at his door Friday.

"I woke up to the sound of a buzzer. They came to my apartment, and they notified me my car was involved in a robbery," said Rob, who did not provide his last name.

Police brought him to the gas station at Halsted and Addison, where his car was with a broken window.

Rob said the recent trend of stolen Kias already had him concerned, and he had plans to buy a steering wheel lock this week to prevent what happened overnight.

"We kinda felt like we were on a clock, like this was an inevitably," he said. "I think my wife wants to sell now."

He's relieved to get his car back with minimal damage, while other residents are hoping the city can do more to prevent these crimes.

"I know Mayor Johnson hired detectives, but detective work is post-work. What're we doing about people preventing that?" Munoz-Wurfel said.

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