Man robbed half a block from mayor's North Side home

A man was robbed early Thursday morning around the corner from Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s home on the North Side.

The 29-year-old man was walking on the sidewalk in the 1700 block of West Berteau Avenue at 5:45 a.m. when a man got out of a white van, implied he had a weapon, and demanded the victim’s backpack, according to police.

The victim, who is hearing-impaired, gave the man his backpack and the robber got back into his van and drive away, police said.

The stolen bag held only clothing and no valuables, police said.

The victim walked about half a block around the corner and approached a 19th District police officer parked outside the mayor’s home, police said.

Area North detectives are investigating.