Police warn of recent armed robberies

October 6, 2011
Police today released community alerts warning of various recent armed robberies on the South and West Sides, including a series involving sexual attacks against female victims.
Few exact details were released, but a vehicle description was available for a robbery against some victims on the South Side Wednesday.
In that robbery two black youths, including one armed with a chrome handgun and wearing a black hoodie, approached the victims on the 7300 block of South Aberdeen Street about 11:20 p.m. and demanded personal property, according to police.
Those youths fled in a 1997 silver Chevrolet Lumina, with possible bullet hole damage on the rear passenger side quarter panel. Police did not discuss how the damage may have occurred.
Anyone with information about this robbery is asked to call Wentworth Area detectives at 312-747-8382.

A second community alert warns of a series of recent robberies and sexual attacks against female victims in six police beats in the Harrison, Monroe and Austin districts.
The alert provides no exact dates for the recent attacks, but said they have taken place in the early morning hours -- between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. -- on the 1112, 1113, 1122, 1211, 1523 and 1531 police beats.
Any connection between the attacks is not discussed, but some similarities to the attacks are noted.
The offender or offenders approach the victim on foot as she is walking on a sidewalk, leaving a parked car or entering her residence. After displaying a handgun the attacker or attackers take property -- including purses, money, jewelry and cell phones -- and then sexually abuse or assault the victim before fleeing, police said.
The attackers have been described as black men in their 20s or 30s, ranging in height from 5-foot-5 to 6-foot, weighing from 130-170 pounds. Various vague clothing descriptions were provided, such as black jeans and black jackets or sweaters, a black skull cap and/or a black ski mask.

Anyone with information on these attacks is asked to call Harrison Area detectives at 312-746-8253