Surging Crime Spree Hits Chicago
In a recent wave of crime, Chicago police have detained three suspects in the South Loop following a robbery spree that targeted neighborhoods from the West Loop to Humboldt Park. The suspects were arrested at a gas station in the South Loop around 5:30 p.m. on December 29, 2024, but charges have not yet been announced by authorities.
This incident marks the third spree since Friday in the same area, with at least three more reported since November 22. The robberies on Sunday began at 2:40 p.m. near Augusta and Pulaski, where four men dressed in black robbed a street vendor. Shortly after, three masked men armed with guns robbed another man near Division and Damen in Wicker Park. The suspects abandoned their blue Hyundai with Georgia license plates in the 500 block of North Albany.
The spree continued as four robbers in their teens or early 20s targeted a man for his AirPods and phone in the 1200 block of West Fulton Market. Another incident involved three masked men assaulting a man near Chicago Avenue and Ada Street, leaving the victim injured but without any stolen items.
Further robberies occurred as three masked men in a white SUV robbed a man in an alley behind the 1900 block of West Division. The suspects were later tracked down by police using license plate readers and detained at a BP station on South Wabash.
Witnesses reported another robbery on Western Avenue and Iowa Street, where three masked men targeted a victim. Descriptions of the suspects varied, with some witnesses describing them as White males and others as Black males in their mid-teens to early 20s.
This surge in crime is not isolated, as similar robbery sprees have been reported in the area in recent weeks. Incidents include multiple robberies in a short time frame, with victims ranging from regular citizens to an off-duty FBI agent. The pattern of armed robberies and carjackings has raised concerns among residents and law enforcement alike.
The Chicago Police Department is actively investigating these incidents and working to apprehend those responsible for the crime spree. Increased vigilance and cooperation from the community are essential in combating this surge in criminal activity.
