HUMBOLDT PARK — Police are investigating an armed robbery spree that occurred this weekend in the Humboldt Park area, some of them violent attacks.
At least 12 armed robberies were reported 2:15-6:45 a.m. Sunday in Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Wicker Park and Ukrainian Village, according to police and a CWB Chicago report.
Robbers pistol-whipped victims in several of the attacks, police said. Detectives think all of the robberies are linked and one crew could be responsible, a law enforcement source said.
The crime spree, first reported by CWB Chicago, started around 2:15 a.m.
A 44-year-old man was walking in the 1300 block of North Ashland Avenue when three men in a black car, possibly a Dodge Charger, pulled up, took out a gun and demanded the victim’s belongings, police said.
The victim fought with the robbers, but the robbers punched his face and hit his ear with a gun before driving off with his belongings, going north, police said.
About five minutes later, two robbers attacked a man who was 25-30 years old in the 1600 block of North Kedzie Avenue, police said.
Two men in a blue-colored sedan robbed the victim at gunpoint and hit the side of his face with an open hand, police said.
Just before 3 a.m., a 43-year-old man and another man were robbed at gunpoint in the 900 block of North Francisco Avenue. The attackers were on foot, police said.
About 3:40 a.m., two armed men robbed a 24-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man in the 800 block of North Sacramento Avenue. Police said the victims gave up their belongings and the attackers got into a gold SUV, possibly a Kia Sportage.
According to police and CWB Chicago, other armed robberies occurred:
- 4:40 a.m. in the 3200 block of West Armitage Avenue
- 4:45 a.m. in the 3200 block of West Armitage Avenue
- 4:45 a.m. at Kedzie and Potomac avenues
- 5:40 a.m. at Kedzie and Armitage avenues
- 5:45 a.m. in the 3400 block of West LeMoyne Street
- 6:30 a.m. in the 2500 block of West Augusta Boulevard
- 6:35 a.m. in the 1600 block of North Kedzie Avenue
- 6:45 a.m. in the 1200 block of North Washtenaw Avenue
Police said robbers pistol-whipped victims in the LeMoyne Street and Kedzie Avenue attacks.
It is unclear how many people are involved in the robbery crew or if crews are working together. Victims reported their attackers using different cars.
Police are investigating each robbery individually and have not sent out a community alert detailing the pattern.
Robberies have reached a five-year high in the 14th Police District and the 12th Police District, according to police data.
The 14th District has seen 288 robberies this year through Oct. 16, compared to 241 last year during the same period and 194 in 2020, while the 12th District recorded 445 robberies, compared to 364 last year and 334 in 2020, data show.
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