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Robbers, One As Young As 10, 'Ripping' Phones From Downtown Pedestrians

 At least six people were robbed of their cellphones or headphones Downtown in recent weeks, police said.
At least six people were robbed of their cellphones or headphones Downtown in recent weeks, police said.
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DOWNTOWN — Police are alerting Downtown residents of a rash of robbers "ripping" cellphones and headphones from unwitting pedestrians in the Loop.

One suspect is believed to be as young as 10 years old. 

In each case, the robber approached a pedestrian from behind while on the sidewalk or a CTA platform and grabbed the items, "using physical force if necessary," police said. 

The robberies occurred:

• At 1:30 a.m. March 6 in the first block of East Randolph Street

• 7:30 p.m. March 17 in the 100 block of North State Street

• 10:15 p.m. March 31 in the first block of South Wabash Avenue

• 9:25 p.m. April 1 in the first block of East Lake Street

• 9:35 p.m. April 1 in the first block of South Dearborn Street

• 11:40 a.m. April 4 in the 100 block of North Wabash Avenue

The robbers work alone or in a group, police said. One suspect is believed to be between 10 and 12 years old, according to Officer Ana Pacheco, a police spokeswoman. 

There have been 11 robberies in the area from March 5 to April 1, the most recent period data is available, up from six during the prior 30-day period, according to the city's crime data portal. 

The trend mirrors a pattern of rising robberies throughout the city. Police last week warned of muggers targeting people "distracted by texting" in Wicker Park, and robberies in River North are at their highest levels since 2005. 

Anyone with information on the crimes is asked to call police at 312-747-8384.

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