In a series of unsettling incidents within the Garfield Park neighborhood, the Chicago Police Department has issued a community alert regarding multiple armed robberies and one attempted vehicular hijacking, all targeting individuals who are particularly vulnerable due to the nature of their work—food delivery and rideshare drivers. These crimes, which occurred within the 11th (Harrison) District, have heightened concerns about the safety of those delivering sustenance and transportation to the city's residents.
Detailing the specific events, the alert notes that in one instance on April 25, victims were accosted at gunpoint by three individuals as they transferred furniture from a home into their vehicle. On the same block that evening, a food delivery driver was robbed while sitting in his car awaiting his next order. A separate, yet hauntingly similar crime occurred the next day, taking place on the 3000 block of W. Jackson. In the most severe of the incidents, on Sunday, a rideshare driver became a victim of an attempted vehicular hijacking and was shot during the assault. These incidents all took place within a tight geographic and temporal frame, indicating a possible pattern of premeditated criminal activity.
The suspects in these incidents are described as 1-3 black males, between the ages of 16 and 20, heights ranging from 5'6" to 5'9", and weighing approximately 130-170 lbs. They were all seen wearing black face masks, black sweatshirts, black pants, and black sneakers. Additionally, one of the offenders has been noted as having a distinctive tattoo above his right eyebrow.
The Chicago Police Department has advised the public to take caution and offered safety tips. These include avoiding confrontation, noting any unique physical characteristics of assailants, preserving video surveillance footage if available, and ensuring any witnesses provide contact information. They stress the importance of calling 9-1-1 immediately, remaining on the scene when possible, and not disturbing anything if you find yourself a victim of such crimes.
