CHICAGO — Downtown robbers have made victims unlock their phones and reset them after being held up at gunpoint on the sidewalk, police said.
During the robberies, the thieves stop people on the sidewalk, show them a gun and then take the victims' cellphones, wallets and whatever they have in their purse, according to a Chicago Police community alert.
The robbers have told victims to unlock their phones so they can reset them to factory status and have demanded the victims give them the PINs for their bank cards, police said.
The incidents occurred:
• 1 a.m. Aug. 29 in the 900 block of South Michigan Avenue
• 12:30 a.m. Aug. 31 in the 1200 block of South Lake Shore Drive
• 1:15 a.m. Sept. 1 in the 500 block of South Columbus Drive
During one robbery, one thief was described as a black teen who was 15-17 years old, 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds with a black baseball hat with yellow writing on it, police said. The other man was 15-17 years old, 5-foot-7, 160 pounds and wore a black-hooded sweatshirt with blue jeans.
During another robbery, one thief was described as being 17-22 years old, 5-foot-6, 160 pounds with a black baseball hat with a Batman logo, police said. The other thief was described as being 17-22 years old, 6-foot, 150 pounds with black pants.
Anyone with information about the robberies is asked to call police at 312-747-8384.
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