LINCOLN PARK — Police reported a string of morning armed robberies this week, with Lincoln Park's alderman adding that one thwarted holdup led directly to a carjacking Wednesday morning.
According to an email sent to constituents Friday by Ald. Michele Smith (43rd), there were a series of North Side armed robberies reported Wednesday between 5:20 a.m. and 8 a.m.
The third holdup, at 8 a.m. on the 1900 block of North Hudson Avenue, was thwarted, according to Smith, but the suspect fled to the next block, where he stole the car of a construction worker on the 1900 block of North Cleveland Avenue.
No description of the suspect was provided.
On Thursday, the Town Hall Police District put out a community alert on a pair of armed robberies earlier on Wednesday. According to police, one holdup took place on the 2400 block of North Stockton Drive at 5:20 a.m. Another took place at 6:15 a.m. on the 4300 block of North Oakley Avenue.
Town Hall Police believe those two holdups are connected. In both a man displayed a gun and demanded property. In one, he told the victim to get on the ground. Both times, the suspect fled in a white Dodge minivan with out-of-state plates, blue and white, with the plate number possibly D832TM, D0832TM or D083JM.
The prime suspect was described as an African-American man, 20-36 years old, about 5-foot-8, weighing 130-160 pounds. He was of medium-brown complexion, with dreadlocks, wearing a white Malone T-shirt, dark blue security-type jacket and dark pants. The driver of the minivan had no known description.
Smith said she had spoken with both Town Hall Cmdr. Marc Buslik and Near North Cmdr. Paul Bauer, and both "personally assured me they are increasing visible police patrols in commuting areas in our ward during the morning hours."
Police advised residents to be aware of these crimes and report them to neighbors, pay special attention to suspicious people in the area and call 911 to report any suspicious activity. Anyone with information on these crimes should call the Area North Bureau of Detectives at 312-744-8263.
