Safety alert for Wicker Park, Bucktown after mugging and armed robbery

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Police issued a safety alert for people in Chicago's Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods after a 23-year-old woman sustained minor injuries in a brazen robbery early Monday morning. It's the second crime to happen in the area since Friday, police said.

Just before 7 a.m., the woman was walking to work near West Wabansia and North Claremont avenues when a mugger came from behind, hitting her in the head and knocking her to the ground.

The thief grabbed her purse and got away with a cellphone. The victim was taken to St. Mary's Hospital with a small cut on her upper lip.

Crews replaced burned-out streetlamps Monday night on the block where the attack occurred. One of the neighbors who came to the victim's aid was shaken up by the attack.

"To wake up to those screams, it's very disturbing," he said. He did not wish to be identified.

Police said the suspect has dreadlocks and was seen wearing a black sweatshirt and sweatpants. Police are still looking for him.

"She was clearly bleeding which, you can see on the ground here, there's still blood on the sidewalk. She was in shock. She was in shock. And so were all the bystanders," the neighbor said.

Four days earlier, on the night of Thursday, Nov. 10, a man was robbed at gunpoint by a pair of thieves just blocks from Monday's mugging.

Neighbors said they want more police patrols.

"Something needs to change. They need to put cameras around and they need to have a greater presence, protecting the citizens in the neighborhood," the neighbor said.