The Chicago Police Department has issued a community alert warning of a string of armed robberies tied to transactions initiated on Facebook Marketplace.
The alert, which flagged a series of incidents throughout March, comes after victims used the social media platform to buy or sell cell phones, only to be met with violence. The suspects, described as males in their late teens to mid-twenties, lured their victims under the pretense of a safe exchange along South Morgan Street before brandishing a firearm and demanding cash and electronics.
Chicago's 7th District (Englewood) has been the unfortunate stage for these crimes, with the latest occurrence on the 6300 Block of South Morgan Street on March 15 at 12:45 p.m. Additionally, similar encounters were reported at the same block on March 14 at 9:40 a.m. and March 6 at 10:20 p.m., painting a distressing pattern of the afternoon and late-night ambushes.
The police are advising the public to exercise caution, suggesting that any merchandise exchanges - sourced from Facebook Marketplace or other social media outlets - should occur at local police stations as a safety measure. The armed assailant has been consistently described as sporting a black hoodie jacket, black pants, and an ominous black handgun. The community is urged to report any suspicious activity they come across and to remain vigilant about their environment.
Victims and witnesses who have crossed paths with such dangers are encouraged to take note of any distinctive features that could help authorities identify the perpetrators. They are reminded to never chase after an assailant but rather to dial 9-1-1, stay on the scene when possible, and provide as much information as they can to the responding officers.
