WICKER PARK — Two workers returning home from their shifts at a Wicker Park restaurant were beaten and robbed by six teenagers late Tuesday, police have confirmed.
Around 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, two 19-year-old men were walking in the 1700 block of West North Avenue, near Honore Street, when they were approached by six teenagers, according to Officer Jose Estrada, a Chicago Police Department spokesman.
The teenagers "basically bumped into them" before they attacked, punched and robbed the men, stealing a cellphone, two backpacks and a wallet, Estrada said.
Though one of the victims had a red and swollen face, he declined medical attention, Estrada said.
The teenagers who robbed the men were described as black, with short hair, wearing jeans, ranging in age from 13 to 17, shorter than 5-foot-8-inches, and weighing less than 150 pounds.
Three of the six teens wore white T-shirts, while two others wore green or multicolored shirts.
The victims work at Xoco Bistro as bussers, according to their co-workers who said the men had just joined the eatery at 1471 N. Milwaukee Ave. about a month ago.
The incident caused one of the bussers to quit, according to a host at the bistro, who said the staff was raising money to help him replace the cash lost in his wallet and buy a new phone.
Xoco Wicker Park manager Carly Tobin, issued a statement early Thursday regarding the collection.
"It’s something that we’ve always done at Xoco Wicker Park. If someone’s having a problem, if there’s a funeral or death in the family, or something like this robbery, we always take up a little collection box. It’s something we’ve done from day one. We take care of our staff. We’re one big family," Tobin said.
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