Pre-dawn armed robberies along South Michigan Avenue have Washington Park neighbors on edge after Chicago police say two people were held up within minutes of each other, with one victim forced into a vehicle. Investigators believe the same white sedan and crew are behind both heists. No arrests have been reported, and detectives are leaning on the public to help fill in the gaps.
Police say the robberies happened before dawn
According to FOX 32 Chicago, the incidents happened on Dec. 31 in the 5700 block of South Michigan Avenue around 3:15 a.m. and the 5200 block around 3:30 a.m. In both cases, police say two people jumped out of a white sedan, showed handguns, and tookthe victims' property. In one of the robberies, officers say the offenders forced a victim into the vehicle and demanded access to his bank account. Authorities described the suspects as Black men between about 17 and 24 years old, roughly 6 feet tall, wearing black hooded sweatshirts and ski masks.
How to report tips
The Chicago Police Department asks anyone with information to contact Area One detectives at 312-747-8380, according to the Chicago Police Department. Residents can also submit anonymous tips through the department's online tip portal. Police say even small details, including surveillance video or a partial license plate, can help identify suspects and prevent further incidents.
Neighbors and context
Quick, car-based robberies where suspects hop out, flash a gun and speed off have cropped up across the South Side in recent years and are sometimes linked to scams or staged meetings, local reporting shows. WTTW documented a string of similar robberies connected to marketplace transactions, and the Chicago Sun-Times has previously reported clusters of armed robberies in Washington Park. Community groups and police advise keeping valuables out of sight, traveling in groups late at night when possible, and sharing any footage or tips with investigators.
