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Chinatown community on high alert after recent string of armed robberies
Chicago police have issued an alert for Chinatown residents after a series of recent armed robberies across the neighborhood.
CHICAGO - Chicago police are warning people in the Chinatown neighborhood to watch out for a group of five males who have robbed nine people during the overnight hours.
It happens quickly, even when people are watching their surroundings. The group of up to five armed people drive around in a white or silver SUV or sedan and hop out, demanding victims’ wallets, purses and phones.
The first in the string of robberies happened in late May. The most recent was July 19th. They happened between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. A private video surveillance system that was placed in Chinatown by business people trying to battle crime captured a few of the incidents.
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The robberies started on May 25 and have continued through July:
- 2300 Block of South Princeton Avenue on July 19 at 11:01 p.m.
- 2300 Block of South Wentworth Avenue on July 16 at 1:10 a.m.
- 200 Block of West 23rd Street on July 16 at 1:13 a.m.
- 1900 Block of South Louie Parkway on July 3 at 10:20 p.m.
- 1900 Block of South Tom Parkway on July 2 at 12:13 a.m.
- 2300 Block of South Wentworth Avenue on June 22 at 2:11 a.m.
- 2300 Block of South Wentworth Avenue on June 17 between 12:30 a.m. and 12:45 a.m.
- 2200 Block of South Wentworth on May 25 at 1:04 a.m.
- 200 Block of West 22nd Place on May 25 at 1:02 a.m.
Police are advising the public to be aware of surroundings, be calm if approached, and give the offenders what they want. They want victims to take note of any characteristics about the offenders that can be reported to police.
Police are also investigating incidents of offenders using flyers to place on top of cellphones, causing a distraction before taking the flyer and the phone underneath.
Anyone with information on these robberies is asked to call Area One detectives at (312) 747-8384.
An earlier version of this story said these robberies were in Armour Square. That was incorrect and the story has been updated to show they were in Chinatown.