Two similar armed robberies reported on Near West Side

Chicago Police are warning residents of two similar armed robberies that happened in June on the Near West Side.

In the first incident, a man walked up to someone in the 0-100 block of North Canal at 10 a.m. June 26 and demanded money from them, according to a community alert from police. When the victim refused, he pulled out a knife and forced the victim to give him money.

In the second incident, a man took a cellphone from another male in the 600 block of West Harrison at 6:10 p.m. June 30 and later threatened him with a knife, police said.

The suspect in the first incident was described as a 27 to 30-year-old black man with a dark complexion and black Afro, standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 175 pounds, police said. He wore a light blue N/D baseball hat, light blue shirt, white shorts, muddy boots and had a face tattoo.

The second suspect was described as a 18 to 25-year-old black man with a dark complexion, standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 170 pounds, police said. He wore a blue baseball hat, blue and red jacket and tan shorts.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact Area Central detectives at (312) 747-8384.