Police warn of armed robberies on North Side

Police are warning residents of a string of armed robberies on the North Side this month, including several over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

In each of the robberies, two or three males approached the victims and robbed them at gunpoint, according to the community alert. At least one person was shot, but the robbers often opened fire and missed, and other victims were pistol-whipped.

The most recent robbery occurred 6 a.m. Friday in the 2800 block of North Sheridan Road. There were three other robberies Friday at 5:50 a.m in the 400 block of West Surf, at 12:54 a.m. in the 1758 block of West Cortland, and at 12:05 a.m. in the 1200 block of North Hoyne.

There were two robberies Thanksgiving Day, at 1:30 a.m. Thursday in the 2400 block of West Wabansia and at 1 p.m. in the 2400 block of North Oakley. At 11:41 p.m. Wednesday, a male was shot in the hand during an armed robbery in the 1500 block of North Paulina.

There were three more robberies this month, which happened:

• at 5 p.m. Nov. 23 in the 3600 block of North Clark;
• at 3:55 p.m. Nov. 23 in the 2900 block of West Belden; and
• at 12:30 a.m. Nov. 15 in the 1200 block of West Waveland.

After the robberies, the suspects ran away to a waiting car, described as a black Toyota Prius, a red Nissan Altima, or a blue car of an unknown make, police said.

The suspects are described as two or three black males, all standing between 5-feet-8 and 6-feet, weighing 160-225 pounds and wearing black hooded sweatshirts, the alert said. One or two of them may have dreadlocks.

Anyone with information about the robberies should call Area North detectives at (312) 744-8263.