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iPhones Stolen in 'Vast Majority' of Robberies in Lakeview, Police Say

 Police called smartphones "a hot commodity" on the black market that can sell for $100-$200.
Police called smartphones "a hot commodity" on the black market that can sell for $100-$200.
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Getty Images/John Moore

LAKEVIEW — Town Hall police are urging smartphone users to be cautious, calling the devices "the largest motivator" behind strong-arm robberies in the area.

"It's just such a hot commodity. It's walking with cash in your hand," said Sgt. Jason Clark, a community policing officer in the district.

In June, beat 1924 — a bar-heavy area bordered by Belmont, Addison, Southport and Halsted — saw 18 robberies. Eleven of these were strong-arm incidents, in which no weapon was used.

There were 36 robberies total in the beat during the first six months of 2014, Clark said. That's down from 51 last year — but Clark noted that half the robberies happened in June.

He said most of the incidents occurred between 1-5 a.m. A number of the victims had been drinking, and the "vast majority" of items stolen were iPhones or other smartphones.

"This phone's worth $100, maybe $200 at a resale. You wouldn't walk around with a $100 bill in your hand, but you'll walk around with this," Clark said.

Smartphones, especially iPhones, are "easy to sell on the black market," he added. "It's got to be the largest motivator behind our strong-arm robberies."

While some neighbors near Belmont and Sheffield have alleged there's a "ring" of young people stealing phones and passing them off to one another, Clark said he couldn't point to one specific group.

The entertainment district draws people from all over the city, he said, adding that police have stepped up their presence on Belmont, Halsted and Clark.

Jeff Graveline, 29, is a bartender who works late nights in the area. He said he always feels safe heading home between 3- 6 a.m., but can see why smartphone theft might be a problem.

"It's a big party area," he said. "If you know 90 percent of the population is drunk, you can find an easy target. ... It's about being vigilant of your surroundings and making sure you're not black-out drunk at 5 a.m."

Another common problem, Clark said, is that people walking alone at night often use their phones as a security blanket.

"People feel connected if they're on the phone," he said. "They feel safer, and they couldn't be farther from the truth because now you're just attracting somebody to you."

Police recommend using earpieces and calling 911 if you see something suspicious. Town Hall officers said burglaries and robberies are "still our main focus" as the summer goes on.

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