Video shows violent robbery of man, 78, on North Side; CPD investigating 9 other robberies

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police are investigating a violent spree of robberies that took place early Thursday morning on the North Side with at least 10 incidents reported.

Police said at around 12:50 a.m., a 78-year-old man was walking outside in the 1900-block of West Wolfram Street when six men approached him and demanded his belongings.

Surveillance video shows six male suspects jump out and demand his belongings, but even after he complied, he was beaten and left on the ground.

Police said the victim was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in good condition.

Meanwhile, neighbors in the West Lakeview area are furious.

"The criminals are being coddled," neighbor Dan Becka said. "The police have their hands tied behind their backs because of these stupid ridiculous policies where they can't chase the criminals, where they can't do their job."

Just after 1:30 a.m., a 25-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman were robbed on the street and beaten after they handed over their belongings in the 300-block of West Webster Avenue.

The armed men got away in a dark sedan and the victims refused medical treatment, police said.

Jasleen Jaswaal works in the area. She's unnerved by the news of the robbery spree.

"Generally, you're told just do whatever they want," Jaswal said. "Hand your wallet or your phone whatever to the person who is robbing you and then you'll be safe and that's still not the case. That's really scary to think about."

SEE MORE: Chicago police investigating series of armed robberies on North, Northwest sides

At around 1 a.m. in the 2800-block of North Lincoln Avenue, a 32-year-old woman was approached by four men and one woman who demanded her belongings.

After she complied, one of the suspects hit her in the head and then sped away in a dark sedan, police said. The woman is expected to be OK, police said.

Robberies were also reported in the 1600-block of West Wilson Avenue, 800-block of South Michigan Avenue, 4400-block of North Lincoln Avenue, 4000-block of Lincoln Avenue, 3000-block of North Clark Street and 700-block of West Belmont Avenue.

In total, there were at least 10 armed robberies reported in just about an hour in Lakeview, Lincoln Park and surrounding neighborhoods.

In some of the encounters the victims were beaten after refusing to hand over valuables, but near Webster and Sedgwick a man and woman were beaten even after complying.

"Just even going out for a walk, going to your car, it's not safe apparently," one West Lakeview woman said. "When you tell someone where you're from the first thing they say now is, 'oh, how is it?' and it's a shame because our great city has kind of taken a downturn. Hopefully we can get back."

In each of the cases overnight, the suspects were armed and were using a dark-colored sedan to get away. They also used violence in several of the robberies even after the victims complied.

"As I mentioned, I'm a concealed carry but I'm nervous to carry a gun with what's going on here, but you have to," Becka said. "I mean, this give the stuff and comply, it's just ridiculous."

Chicago police data show that over the past year in Lincoln Park alone there have been 50 armed robberies, a 28% increase compared to the prior three-year average.

CPD said no one is in custody for any of the incidents.

In a statement Thursday afternoon, CPD said, "The Chicago Police Department's Bureau of Patrol and the Bureau of Detectives are enhancing internal coordination and collaboration to solve motor vehicle theft and robbery cases. As we seek justice for victims of these crimes, each week personnel from both bureaus meet to identify and review patterns related to these motor vehicle thefts and robberies. These meetings also focus on strategic deployments to address and prevent these crimes, leveraging technology as part of the investigations, and community engagement efforts centered around awareness and prevention resources."

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