Police: Robbers Armed With Hammers at Large in Nearby Lake View

Police say as many as six robbers have been approaching victims in the area and threatening them with a hammer in exchange for their belongings.

Three late-night and early morning robberies have been reported in the Chicago Police Department's 19th District, which includes Lincoln Square. Police say between one and six offenders have approached the victims in the incidents as they are walking on sidewalks.

In one incident, which occurred on Sept. 30, 2013 at 12:30 a.m. in the 3000 block of N. Seminary, one of the six offenders struck the victim in the leg with the hammer causing the victim to fall to the ground, police said. 

The offenders fled in a four-door sedan of an unknown make and model, according to an alert issued on Monday.

The incidents:

• The 2800 block of North Southport Ave. between 3 a.m. and 3:45 a.m. on May 22, 2013.
• The 600 block of West Buckingham Place at midnight on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013.
• The 3000 block of North Seminary Ave. at 12:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 30.

About The Offenders

• The offender on Southport Ave. is described as a Black man between the ages of 19 and 21 years old. He stands between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet 1 inch tall. He weighs around 175 pounds, according to police. He had a "black fade flat top hairstyle" and a small gap between his front teeth. He was seen exiting an unknown make/model vehicle parked on the street.

• The offenders on Buckingham Place are described as: A Hispanic man around 19 years old who stands at about 5 feet five inches tall and weighs about 120 pounds. He had a light complexion and a black pony tail. He was accompanied by a 22-year-old man who was about 5 feet 11 inches tall and 140 pounds. He had black dreadlocks.

• The offenders on Seminary Avenue are described as six offenders seen in a four-door sedan. One offender was said to be a Hispanic man between the ages of 19 and 21 years old. He was about 6 feet tall and weighed around 145 pounds. He had an olive complexion and wore a black hooded sweatshirt. Another one of the six was described as a Black man around 19 to 22 years old. He was about 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighed about 165 pounds. He was wearing a white jacket. Police did not have any additional descriptions of the suspects. 

What You Can Do

• Always be aware of your surroundings
• Report any suspicious people or vehicles in the area
• If you are confronted by an assailant remain calm
• Remember any unique physical characteristics (scars, limp, acne, teeth, etc.)
• Never pursue a fleeing assailant, provide the information to the police
• If approached by a witness to the incident, request contact information
• Be aware of this crime and alert neighbors in the area.
• Pay special attention to anyone loitering in the area.
• Dial 911 and provide a detailed description of the offender(s) including any vehicle description, license plate information and direction of flight.

If you have any information about this incident, please call the Bureau of Detectives, Area North at 312-744-8263. Anonymous tips can be submitted to TIPSOFT.COM. Reference – HW-285505, HW-418547, HW-473019.