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Masked Gunmen Rob 2 North Side Liquor Stores, Assault One Clerk: Police

By Mark Schipper | February 5, 2016 3:21pm | Updated on February 5, 2016 4:38pm
 Alpha Liquors was one of two North Side liquor stores robbed Jan. 20 of more than $1,200.
Alpha Liquors was one of two North Side liquor stores robbed Jan. 20 of more than $1,200.
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DNAinfo/Mark Schipper

CHICAGO — Masked gunmen ambushed and robbed two neighborhood liquor stores in Ravenswood and Lincoln Square on Jan. 20, police said. 

Robbers netted about $1,250 cash from Windy City Liquors, 4959 N. Damen Ave., and Alpha Foods, 2558 W. Lawrence Ave., between 8 and 10 p.m., after holding up clerks at gunpoint and assaulting one, according to police.

The 54-year-old clerk at Alpha Liquors, who declined to be named, said he was grateful the attack wasn’t worse, and said he would quit his job shortly.

According to the Chicago Police report of the incident, two masked men charged into the shop about 9:45 p.m. and rushed the clerk.

The clerk told police he tried to grab the gun out of an attacker's hand, but was hit across the face with the gun and knocked to the ground, where he was kicked multiple times and robbed of his wallet. The gunman then forced the clerk into a bathroom and attempted to lock him inside.

The robbers emptied the register and fled the area with around $450 cash, according to police.   

The Windy City clerk, Joseph Augustine, 64, told officers three men had burst into his shop around 8 p.m. and took control of it, with one man blocking the door and a second man racing behind the counter to knock down the surveillance camera, cracking its lens, according to his statement to police. 

He was forced to the ground while one of the robbers took $600 from the register. Afterward, he was told to get up at gunpoint and march to the back of the store where he was robbed of his personal property, including $200 cash.

The group left the store on foot headed east on Argyle street, where one eye-witness told officers he saw the men running. Officers toured the area after the robberies but did not make any arrests.  

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