Police warn of armed robberies, carjacking in Austin

Police are warning residents about a series of armed robberies and a carjacking involving a red minivan the West Side Austin neighborhood last week.

In the reported robberies, a man armed with a dark-colored handgun has approached victims and demanded property before getting away in a red minivan, according to a community alert from Chicago Police. In one of the incidents, the man robbed a driver of her vehicle and drove off being followed by the red minivan.

The first robbery was reported about 2:45 a.m. on Dec. 6 in the 5300 block of West Chicago, followed by a second robbery in the 5300 block of West Race about 4:20 a.m. the same day, police said.

The third robbery was reported at 7:19 p.m. on Dec. 7 in the 1000 block of North Leamington, police said.

The possible suspects are described as two to three men between 18 and 25 years old who weigh 140 to 170 pounds and stand between 5-foot-9 and 6-foot-1, police said. The vehicle is described as a red Dodge or Chrysler minivan.

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