Residents of Chicago's 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th & 25th Districts are urged to stay alert as a series of armed robberies has plagued the area, according to a Community Alert issued by the Chicago Police Department (CPD). Authorities have notified the public of numerous incidents occurring throughout the district in which groups of assailants, reportedly between four to eight males, have been approaching victims on the street, brandishing handguns, and demanding personal property before fleeing.
The string of crimes took place primarily in the early morning hours of April 12 and April 15, spanning various locations. Victims were approached on busy blocks like the 1300 block of North Halsted St and the 2100 block of North Halsted St, among others. These perpetrators have managed to always stay one step ahead of law enforcement, escaping the crime scenes in a slew of different reported vehicles.
CPD describes the suspects as African American males, ages 18 to 25, wearing masks and black clothing. They were armed and appeared to be working as a coordinated group. The department's notice includes specific instructions for citizens, emphasizing the importance of remaining vigilant, calm during confrontations, and to carefully note any distinguishing features of the assailants such as scars or tattoos.
Members of the community are advised to never try to actively pursue a fleeing suspect but rather are encouraged to rapidly provide detailed information to the police. When witnessing a crime, bystanders should seek to secure contact details from other witnesses and call 911 immediately with descriptions of the suspects, including any vehicle identification or license plate numbers that can be safely obtained from a distance.
Those in the affected districts are grappling with the uneasy reality of these violent encounters as law enforcement intensifies their efforts to track down the offenders. The CPD continues to solicit the public's assistance in apprehending the group responsible for these brazen acts of crime. For updates and more information on what to do if you find yourself in a similar peril, refer to the latest CPD community alert.
