2 teen boys charged with Northwest Side armed robbery spree

Two teenage boys have been charged with a string of armed robberies early Sunday on the Northwest Side.

The boys, ages 15 and 16, were each charged with a felony count of robbery, according to Chicago Police. The 15-year-old was also charged with felony counts of theft under $500 and unlawful possession of three or more credit or debit cards, while the 16-year-old was charged with a felony count of unlawful possession of a credit or debit card.

They were arrested about 1:30 p.m. Monday in the 7600 block of North Rogers Avenue, police said. Investigators also recovered the 2005 black Nissan sedan that was wanted in connection with the robberies.

Both suspects were expected to appear in juvenile court on Tuesday.

At least nine robberies happened in a span of about six hours this morning, starting just before midnight Sunday, Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said at a Monday morning news conference. Officers were searching for two to four suspects, ranging from their late teens to early twenties.

The robberies happened in the 17th police district, which is north of Belmont Avenue, bounded roughly by Cicero Avenue on the west and the Chicago River on the east.

Police released a community alert Monday night listing all of the recent armed robberies in the 17th, 20th, and 24th police districts. In all, 16 robberies were reported since Saturday, police said.