Old Town businesses hit by armed robber: police

Police are warning Old Town businesses about a pair of armed robberies that occurred last week on the North Side.

In each incident, the suspect enters the businesses, talks to the victim, pulls out a gun and announces a robbery, Chicago police said. He then takes cash from the register before fleeing the scene.

The first robbery happened in the early morning May 16 in the 1600 block of North LaSalle Drive, police said. The second happened in the evening May 18 in the 100 block of West Division Street.

The robber was described as a 40- to 60-year-old man standing between 5-foot-10 and 6-foot-1 and weighing about 160 pounds, police said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Area Central detectives at 312-747-8380.