The streets of Chicago's 11th District have become a hunting ground for a group of armed robbers exploiting the Uber app for their nefarious ends, according to a Community Alert issued by the Chicago Police Department. These criminals, described as two to four young male blacks between 16 and 18 years of age, have been calling rideshares to fixed destinations only to turn on the driver with firearms drawn.
In a chilling pattern of events, these perpetrators have been taking more than just the drivers' belongings. In a least two instances, they've assaulted victims with the butt of a handgun, demanding not only their possessions but the passcodes to their cell phones. The most recent of these attacks occurred on the 3600 block of W. Franklin Blvd. on January 14 at approximately 7:05 p.m., following two earlier incidents on the 500 block of N. Monticello Ave.
With the offenders reportedly wearing dark clothing and black ski masks to conceal their identities, the Chicago Police urge the public to note any distinctive features of the assailants, such as scars or limps, should they come in contact. They have also cautioned against resisting during a robbery or attempting to pursue fleeing assailants.
If approached by a witness, victims or bystanders are encouraged to "request contact information," and give it to the police as soon as it's safe to do so. The department’s advisory stresses the importance of dialing 9-1-1 immediately, remaining on the scene when possible, and refraining from touching any potential evidence.
