Armed robbers don’t waste time, strike 3 times in matter of minutes

Police believe the same two young men robbed an 85-year-old man, a 67-year-old man and a woman out with her 11-year-old daughter, all in less than an hour Friday morning in northwest Indiana.

Police have released surveillance photos and video of the armed robbers, and the car they used in the robberies, according to Hammond Police, who said the same pair and driver may also have robbed a fourth victim later that morning in East Chicago, Indiana.

The first robbery occurred about 6:20 a.m. in the 5800 block of Hohman Avenue, police said. The suspects, wearing hoodies, tried to rob an 85-year-old man, police said. Then a few minutes later, they robbed a 67-year-old man in the 4000 block of Grover Avenue.

And just minutes after the second robbery, they robbed a 33-year-old woman who was out walking with her 11-year-old daughter in the 4100 block of Wabash Avenue, police said.

Both suspects carried guns in each incident, including later that morning, when police believe they robbed a 49-year-old man in East Chicago.

The suspects are described as black males, between the ages of 16 and 24. They are believed to be between 5-feet-10-inches and 6 feet tall, with medium builds. One wore a white hooded sweatshirt, the other a blue hooded sweatshirt. The only description available for the getaway driver is that they could be either male or female, and had long hair. The vehicle was a 4-door gray sedan.

Police are asking for public help in identifying the suspects, who they call armed and dangerous. Anyone who can identify any of them or the vehicle should call Det. Sgt. Rich Tumidulsky at (219) 852-2997; Det. Lt. Dave Carter (219) 852-2984; or Det. Sgt. Tom Textor at (219) 852-2973.