Residents of the Logan Square neighborhood are on high alert following a series of armed robberies targeting sellers on Facebook Marketplace. The Chicago Police Department has issued a community alert for the 014th District, detailing incidents where individuals were lured under the guise of a sale and subsequently robbed at gunpoint or through physical force.
The robberies have occurred during arranged meetings to sell items listed on the social media platform, with offenders orchestrating these face-to-face transactions to take advantage of unsuspecting victims; when the merchandise is presented, they either brandish a Glock semi-automatic weapon or resort to pushing the victims to grab the items before fleeing the scene. Incidents have been reported on the 2000 Block of North Kedzie on July 18 and 24, and the 2000 Block of North Sawyer on July 29, as well as August 06 and 22.
The culprits have been described as two Black males, aged between 18 and 25, with one sporting braids and the other with short cut hair, approximately 5'09" to 6'00" in height and weighing between 145 to 185 pounds. This description aims to assist in the identification and apprehension of the individuals responsible for these robberies.
The police are urging the community to take precautions, these encompass being vigilant of their surroundings, and avoiding transactions with unknown persons if possible, particularly through social media apps; the optimal recommendation is conducting such exchanges in public places, with police stations being the preferred location. If anyone finds themselves a victim or a witness to a similar crime, they are encouraged to dial 911 promptly and provide a thorough description of the offenders and any vehicles involved.
