CHICAGO — Police issued an alert warning small businesses in the Lincoln Square area about two recent robberies in which a man took money and then attacked employees.
The attacks happened during afternoon hours when just one employee was working at each business, police said.
On Thursday about 4:16 p.m., the man went inside a business in the 2300 block of West Leland Avenue and asked a sales employee for help buying something.
He then went up to the counter and took money from the register and employee, police said. After stealing the cash, the man punched and kicked the worker and fled the shop, police said.
Cops said the man robbed another business in the 1900 block of Montrose Avenue on Sunday about 2:45 p.m. Again, he asked for help in purchasing something, then went to the register, police said.
The suspect grabbed the worker and demanded money, according to alert. After the victim handed over cash and tried to get out of the store, the attacker punched him in the face, cops said. The suspect then fled the business, police said.
Police described the suspect as a black man 35 to 45 years old, 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 240 to 250 pounds. At the time of the robberies he was wearing a beige "puffy" jacket, dark jogging pants and dark gym shoes, according to the alert.
Cops asked anyone with information to call 312-744-8263