A routine weekday ride along West Diversey Avenue reportedly turned into a brief scare when four people tried to rob a passenger on a CTA bus in Belmont Central, according to Chicago police.
The attempted robbery happened around 9 a.m. on April 6 in the 6300 block of West Diversey Avenue in the Belmont Central neighborhood, authorities said. Detectives have released images and clothing descriptions of the suspects as they work to track them down.
Police Release Suspect Images, Ask For Tips
Investigators circulated images of four males and detailed what they were wearing at the time of the incident, according to FOX 32 Chicago.
Police said one suspect wore a gray or light-colored hooded sweatshirt, black jeans and tan boots. A second wore a tan jacket over a black hoodie. A third had on a black hooded jacket with light-colored jeans. The fourth was described as wearing glasses and a black hooded jacket. Authorities have not released the ages of the suspects or any details about the victim.
Attempted Robbery Hits During CTA Security Surge
The case comes as the CTA and Chicago police are in the middle of a systemwide "security surge" that is supposed to make riders feel safer, and convince federal officials that the agency is taking safety seriously.
Mass Transit Magazine reports the CTA boosted its Voluntary Special Employment Program to deploy roughly 120 off-duty officers per day and expanded private K-9 coverage. The stepped-up plan followed a Federal Transit Administration review that labeled an earlier security proposal "materially deficient," according to the outlet.
How To Report Tips
Anyone with information or video from the bus or nearby area is asked to contact Chicago Police Public Transportation detectives at 312-745-4447 and reference case No. JK207407. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through CPDTIP.com, authorities said.
Police emphasized that witnesses should not try to chase or confront suspects, and should call 911 if a rider’s safety appears to be in immediate danger, according to FOX 32 Chicago.
Riders And Officials Weigh Next Steps
Transit safety has been a hot topic this year, as officials push for faster investigations and riders debate whether more officers and K-9 teams will actually stop quick, on-board crimes before they unfold. Reporting from Railway Age and other outlets notes that the CTA says its security surge is meant to increase visibility and help detectives move faster on cases like this one.
In the meantime, police are leaning on the same people who ride these buses every day, asking them to save any video they might have and report suspicious activity rather than trying to play hero.
