Arrest made in North, West side knifepoint robberies

An arrest was made Wednesday afternoon in connection with several knifepoint robberies of small businesses on the North and West sides in the last month.

The suspect was taken into police custody about 1:10 p.m., according to a statement from Chicago Police. Authorities did not say where the arrest was made. The person — whose age and gender were also not disclosed — is believed to be responsible for at least four robberies in the city since early May.

The robberies, all committed at knifepoint, occurred in the 1600 block of North Damen about 12:50 p.m. on May 6; in the 2100 block of North Halsted about 1:20 p.m. on May 13; in the 5700 block of West North Avenue about 1:30 p.m. on May 18 and in the 2200 block of North Halsted about 2:40 p.m. on June 1.

In the first robbery on Damen, a store clerk’s hand was cut as the suspect reached for the cash register, police said at the time.

The arrest was made after “a combined effort between Chicago Police detectives assigned to both Area Central and Area North, members of the Chicago Police Department’s Intelligence Section and members of the FBI,” the statement said.

No charges have been filed as of Wednesday night.