A group of armed, masked suspects has robbed four Chicago businesses since early July, smashing glass display cases, beating victims and making off with cash, jewelry and a stolen wallet and cellphone, according to Chicago police. Investigators released surveillance video connected to the case Friday and are now asking the public for help identifying the people responsible.
The four robberies stretched across three separate neighborhoods and police districts: Wicker Park, Heart of Chicago and LeClaire Courts, according to Chicago police. As reported by FOX 32 Chicago, the spree began at 9:28 a.m. on July 2 in the 4500 block of South Cicero Avenue in LeClaire Courts, followed by a second robbery at 10:03 a.m. on July 6 in the 1400 block of North Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park. That Wicker Park corridor is known for its dense mix of boutique retail and specialty shops, a high-foot-traffic setting that draws heavy daytime business.
The suspects returned to the exact same LeClaire Courts commercial strip on August 1, striking again at 4:15 p.m. in the 4500 block of South Cicero Avenue — the same block hit five weeks earlier. A fourth robbery followed at 10:57 a.m. on August 11 in the 2300 block of West Cermak Road in Heart of Chicago. In each case, police say the suspects entered the businesses armed with handguns and demanded keys and access codes to store safes.
What the Suspects Did Inside
Once inside, the suspects broke glass display cases and stole money and jewelry, according to police. Robbery victims were physically attacked during the incidents, per Chicago police, and in at least one case suspects also took a victim's wallet and cellphone. Police describe the suspects as two to four Black males wearing dark masks, standing roughly 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall and weighing between 130 and 230 pounds.
Distinguishing details from the video include one suspect wearing orange-lens sunglasses and another in a dark hoodie bearing a Glock logo. Police say the group arrived in a stolen gray or white Acura ADX, a subcompact luxury crossover SUV that Acura only introduced for the 2025 model year with a base price in the mid-$30,000s, making it a relatively distinctive vehicle to spot on Chicago streets, per Acura's own release information.
Multiple Police Areas, One Investigation
Because the robberies crossed three separate police districts — the 14th District covering Wicker Park, the 10th District covering Heart of Chicago, and the 8th District covering LeClaire Courts — Chicago police assigned detectives from three different regional units to the case. Area One detectives, who cover the South Side, can be reached at 312-747-8384. Area Four detectives, covering the West Side, can be reached at 312-746-8253, and Area Five detectives, covering the Northwest Side, can be reached at 312-746-7394. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at CPDTIP.com using reference number 26-CWP-019A.
The spree comes amid a broader, seemingly contradictory crime picture in Chicago this year. Citywide, reported robberies fell 28% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, according to a multi-city analysis from the Council on Criminal Justice. At the same time, nonresidential burglaries surged 132% over that same stretch, even as most other crime categories declined — a divergence that lines up with the pattern of targeted, daytime commercial robberies seen in this case. The city also recorded its lowest annual homicide total since 1965 in 2025, alongside multi-year drops in robbery and aggravated assault, according to the University of Chicago Crime Lab.
Potential Charges If Suspects Are Caught
If apprehended and convicted, the suspects would face severe statutory penalties under Illinois law. Armed robbery with a firearm is a Class X felony under 720 ILCS 5/18-2, carrying a mandatory, non-probationable sentence of 6 to 30 years in prison, plus a mandatory 15-year firearm enhancement — creating a minimum sentence of 21 years. Suspects could also face a separate Class 2 felony charge for possession of a stolen motor vehicle under 625 ILCS 5/4-103, punishable by 3 to 7 years in prison in addition to any robbery charges.
