Person of interest being questioned about robberies of elderly people

Police are questioning a man as a person of interest who might be connected to recent robberies of elderly people on the Northwest Side.

The man was taken into custody for questioning about 7 p.m. Saturday, according to Chief of Patrol Fred Waller.

Waller said in a press conference Saturday night that the man was being questioned in connection to the robbery of an elderly couple early Saturday inside their Belmont Cragin home on the Northwest Side. However, CPD’s office of News Affairs said Sunday that the man had not been connected to a specific robbery.

In the Belmont Cragin robbery, a robber climbed through the window of an elderly couple’s home about 1:20 a.m. Saturday in the 5100 block of West Wellington, police said. He then approached one of the residents, an 84-year-old man, and implied he had a weapon. The man and his 81-year-old wife handed over a checkbook, jewelry and wallet with $30 in cash before the robber ran away.

Just a night earlier, an 81-year-old man and a 77-year-old woman were assaulted during a home invasion and robbery in the same neighborhood. One or more male attackers broke into a home in the 5400 block of West Henderson, attacking the elderly residents and stealing a purse before running away.

Another robbery happened Tuesday night in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood. About 9:35 p.m., the robbers entered the home in the 4800 block of West Nelson and threatened to batter the victims while demanding their property, according to a community alert issued Friday by Chicago Police.

The first attack happened May 19 in the Irving Park neighborhood. Someone entered a 78-year-old woman’s home about 1:15 p.m. in the 4100 block of North Avers and battered her, according to Chicago Police. She was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in critical condition.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said investigators had connected several incidents in the area, but did not know whether the man being questioned was linked to those as well.

Anyone with information about the attacks is asked to contact Area North detectives at (312) 744-8263.