A string of robberies targeting individuals selling expensive shoes on Facebook Marketplace has prompted the Chicago Police Department to issue a community alert for the 11th District. The alert, detailed on the department's website, warns of two recent incidents in which sellers were lured under the pretense of a transaction and then violently robbed of their goods.
The first robbery occurred on September 7, 2024, at around 2:50 PM in the 200 block of S Maplewood Ave. According to the Chicago Police Department's statement, the offender feigned weapon possession by reaching for his waistband before physically assaulting the victim. In the second incident, which took place the next day at approximately 9:30 AM in the same location, the culprits incapacitated their victim with pepper spray before making off with the stolen property.
The suspects have been described as two African-American males between the ages of 13 to 18, with heights ranging from 5'05" to 5'09" and weights between 130 to 150 pounds. They were reportedly dressed in dark pants and hoodies—one pink and one black—and were wearing facemasks. The police have urged anyone with information about these individuals or the crimes to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.
In response to these violent robberies, residents are advised to conduct their online marketplace transactions in public spaces and to be cautious of potential buyers who may have ulterior motives. The Chicago Police Department has recommended that in the event of being approached by a potential witness, individuals should ask for their contact information to pass along to law enforcement. In the case of an actual robbery, it's suggested that victims never resist or pursue the assailants, but instead, "Dial 9-1-1 immediately and remain on scene when possible, and don't touch any evidence."
