Nov. 23--Police are warning residents of recent robberies on the city's North Side that occurred over the past week.
The two incidents happened in the Lakeview neighborhood on Sunday and Friday, according to a statement from the Chicago Police Department's Office of News Affairs.
In both robberies, a male attacker used force and the threat of force while taking a purse and a backpack from the victims on the street. In both cases, the offender also walked up to the victim from behind, the statement said.
In the Nov. 21 robbery, the crime happened at 1:55 a.m. on the 3600 block of North Fremont Avenue, according to the statement.
The offender was described as a black man in the mid 20s. He is 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighs about 190 pounds and has short hair. He wore a black wool jacket, jeans and a black flat-brimmed White Sox baseball cap.
The man ran into a dark blue four-door car, possibly a Chevy Malibu, in an alley south of West Waveland Avenue, the statement said.
The Nov. 16 incident occurred at 5:35 p.m. in the 900 block of West Newport Street, according to the statement.
The offender was described as a black man who is between 25 and 32 years old. He weighs between 185 to 200 pounds and is between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches tall. He has with short hair and was wearing a black or dark blue hooded sweatshirt and jeans, the statement said.
Anyone with information should call Area North detectives at 312-744-8263.
Police urge residents to be aware of their surroundings and report suspicious activity immediately, the statement said. If confronted by an attacker, residents should remain calm and try to remember any unique physical characteristics of the attacker. If approached by a witness of the incident, residents should request his or her contact information.
