Chicago police are warning about a string of armed robberies in which people were forced to hand over their cellphones and transfer funds from their bank accounts; in some cases, victims were even kidnapped.
Between April 5 and May 17, incidents occurred in the Chicago neighborhoods of Streeterville, River North, and Lakeview.
Many of the crimes happened late at night and near prominent nightlife spots, such as Clark Street in Wrigleyville.
Police believe a group of up to four men may be responsible for the crime spree that has lasted several weeks.
“I mean, this is insane,” remarked Clark Street employee Lindsay Slay. “This is supposed to be a safe area.”
Slay stated that she recently moved to Chicago from South Bend, Indiana. She began her new work two months ago and is settling in the Lakeview neighborhood.
The armed robberies have pushed Slay to be extra cautious and alert in her new neighborhood, she stated.
“You can’t trust anyone,” she explained. “I mean you have to always watch your back.”
Since early April, police have been investigating at least 15 armed robberies in three northside communities, including the following:
• 100 block of W. Ontario on April 5, 2026 at 12:35 a.m. (River North)
• 200 block of E. Ohio on April 18, 2026 between 3:30-3:45 a.m. (Streeterville)
• 3500 block of N. Clark on April 22, 2026 at 12:22 a.m. (Lake View)
• 3700 block of N. Broadway on April 23, 2026 at 9:30 p.m. (Lake View)
• 600 block of N. Dearborn on April 26, 2026 at 2:30 a.m. (River North)
• 0-100 block of W. Hubbard on April 26, 2026 at 2:30 a.m. (River North)
• 3500 block of N. Clark on May 2, 2026 at 11:30 p.m. (Lake View)
• 3500 block of N. Clark on May 3, 2026 at 1 a.m. (Lake View)
• 600 block of N. Wabash on May 3, 2026 at 3 a.m. (Lake View)
• 3500 block of N. Clark on May 4, 2026 at 10 p.m. (Lake View)
• 400 block of N. Clark on May 8, 2026 at 1 a.m. (River North)
• 0-100 block of W. Hubbard on May 10, 2026 between 1 a.m. – 3 a.m. (River North)
• 3600 block of N. Clark on May 17, 2026 at 2 a.m. (Lake View)
• 600 block of N. La Salle on May 17, 2026 at 4 a.m. (River North)
• 0-100 block of E. Ohio on May 17, 2026 between 4:40 a.m. – 4:52 a.m. (River North)
The victims told police that their phones were stolen late at night or early in the morning.
“I guess from up here it does make a little more sense with the bars and everything and nightlife in the area,” Isabel Bronwlee, a Lakeview East resident, explained.
Police said the thieves even used the victims’ phones to gain access to their bank accounts and steal their money. In five of the robberies, police said the victims were forced into the suspect’s car and driven around while the criminals engaged in bogus transactions and transfers.
“I definitely am more cautious and being aware of who’s around me when I’m out and about,” Brownlee said. “But for the most part it is still, I’d like to think that the city is still really safe and everything especially the neighborhood that I’m in.”
As of Friday, police had only provided a vague description of the suspects. The vehicles utilized are characterized as dark-colored SUVs or sedans, such as a black BMW SUV.
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