Police warn of armed carjackings on Near West Side

Police are warning residents of two armed carjackings that took place within 30 minutes of each other Tuesday evening on the Near West Side.

The carjackings happened at 5:05 p.m. in the 2400 block of West Taylor, then again at 5:30 p.m. in the 2500 block of West Congress Parkway, according to a community alert from Chicago Police.

In one incident, three people, one of whom was armed with a handgun, approached a female victim and stole her vehicle, police said. The trio then sped away in the victim’s vehicle.

In the other incident, only one person approached a person and, showing a handgun, demanded the victim’s keys, police said. The robber then stole the victim’s vehicle and sped away.

The suspects are all described as black males, between 17 and 18 years old, standing about 5-foot-9, police said.

Anyone with information on the carjackings should contact Area North detectives at (312) 744-8263.