Armed Robbers Who Shot Elderly Man Linked To Indiana Crimes: Cops (VIDEO)

CHICAGO, IL — Police are investigating an attempted armed robbery-turned-shooting that wounded a 73-year-old man on Chicago's South Side to see if the suspects in that case also are responsible for a string of robberies in northwest Indiana, according to authorities. Video footage and descriptions of the two men were released by police in Hammond, Indiana, and they are working with Chicago detectives to identify and find the men.

The South Side incident occurred Thursday morning in the 6100 block of South Kenneth Avenue in the West Lawn neighborhood, according to Chicago police. One of the suspects jumped from a black SUV and demanded the elderly man turn over his possessions. When the victim refused, he was shot in the stomach, and the suspects fled, police said.

The victim was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, police said. His identity has not been released. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for the South Side and Chicago — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

When Hammond detectives heard about this shooting, they noticed similarities between it and four recent armed robberies in the city and nearby East Chicago. Not only did the men in the Chicago incident resemble the suspects in the Indiana cases, but there also were similarities in the crimes and when they happened.

All of the Indiana incidents occurred Aug. 18, according to Hammond police. The first three crimes happened in Hammond, starting at around 6:20 a.m. when two men in hoodies tried to rob an 85-year-old man. The suspects then robbed a 67-year-old man nearby only minutes later. Finally, a 33-year-old woman who was walking with her 11-year-old daughter were robbed shortly after the second crime, police said.

After the Hammond incidents, police believe the suspects traveled to neighboring East Chicago and robbed a 49-year-old man there. In all the cases, the men were armed.

"We are following up with Chicago Police to see if these are the same two individuals who came to Hammond and conducted early morning robberies in our city last week," Hammond police said in a statement online. "Investigators are following several leads they have received so far but would like to encourage the public to continue to reach out and contact the Hammond or Chicago Police Department with any information containing the possible identity of the suspects."

Hammond police released security camera video of the armed robbery involving the mother and daughter. In that footage, two men are seen racing at the victims with guns drawn.

WATCH: Two armed robbery suspects are caught on security camera video confronting a mother and daughter in Hammond, Indiana, on Aug. 18. Video contains graphic and disturbing images. Viewer discretion is advised:

Along with the video footage from the Chicago shooting, police released descriptions of the suspects. They are described as:

• two black men with medium builds
• between of 16 and 24 years old
• between 5-feet-10-inches to 6-feet tall

Both men wore hooded sweatshirts during the incidents, with one suspect wearing a white hoodie while the other had on a blue one. They were seen riding in a four-door, gray sedan in the Indiana incidents and a black SUV in the Chicago case.

Witnesses also saw a third suspect driving the sedan, but they couldn't provide a full description, police said. Authorities say the suspects are considered armed and dangerous.

On Thursday, Chicago police sent out an alert concerning at least nine other similar armed robberies that happened recently in the 9th District, which includes the Brighton Park, Gage Park and Back of the Yards neighborhoods. Those cases occurred between 4:30 and 6:40 a.m. Aug. 18 through Wednesday, Aug. 23. The suspects also matched similar descriptions to the West Lawn and Indiana cases.

Anyone with information about the suspects or any of the cases should contact Hammond police Det. Sgt. Rich Tumidulsky at 219-852-2997; Det. Lt. Dave Carter at 219-852-2984; or Det. Sgt. Tom Textor at 219-852-2973. Tipsters also can contact the Chicago Police Department's Area Central detectives at 312-747-8382.

Two armed robbery suspects are caught on security camera video confronting a mother and daughter in Hammond, Indiana, on Aug. 18. The four-door sedan they were riding in (second photo) also was captured in the video, which was released by Hammond police. (Images via the Hammond Police Department)

Like What You're Reading? Stay Patched In!

• Like our Crime page on Facebook
• Check out the Events Calendar for what’s going on