Detectives warn of South Side robbers

In a series of robberies in the Wentworth District, two to three men robbed people as they left currency exchanges or ATM machines.
In the first, a man, 47, was robbed about 4:45 p,m. in the 500 block of East 47th Street on Jan 3. On Feb. 5, a man, 34, was robbed in the 4600 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue about 1:20 p.m., and at 3:30 p.m. the same day a man, 20, was robbed in the 4700 block of South Vincennes Avenue.
The robbers are described as black boys or men, between the ages of 17 and 25, standing between 5-foot-6 and 6-foot 2, possibly with dreadlocks.

In a third series of robberies, two to three men have committed robberies recently on the CTA Green Line “L” in recent weeks.

In the first, on Jan. 5 at 11:20 p.m., two men or boys confronted a 17-year-old boy on the Green Line at 51st Street, threatening to beat him up he did not hand over his jacket and cell phone, police said. The victim handed over his property and got off the train, while the robbers remained on.
On Feb. 3 at 5:25 p.m., three men or boys went up to a 23-year-old man on a train near 47th Street, and one of the attackers grabbed him by the throat as the other two went through his pocket and took his phone, police said. When the train stopped, the attackers pushed the man out the door of the train and stayed on themselves.
The robbers in the CTA attacks are described as black men or boys between the ages of 16 and 21, standing between 5-foot-10 and 6-foot-2, and weighing between 190 and 230 pounds.
Police did not release information on the type of clothing any of the robbers might have been wearing at the time of the attacks.

Anyone with information on the robberies is asked to call Wentworth Area detectives at 312-747-8382 or email AREA1TIP@chicagopolice.org.