Police have charged two juveniles after they allegedly carried out a string of robberies across the South Loop and Printer’s Row in under an hour Monday night.
The first robbery occurred around 9:30 p.m. in the 700 block of South Clark Street. Police said a 14-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy approached an 18-year-old victim, demanded his cellphone and suggested they had a weapon. The victim surrendered his phone, and the suspects fled.
Roughly 15 minutes later, the pair allegedly targeted a 23-year-old in the 700 block of South Dearborn Street. Police said they took the victim’s phone and again ran away on foot.
Just one minute later, at 9:46 p.m., the suspects approached a 26-year-old man who was unloading items from his car. They demanded property from the vehicle while allegedly threatening to shoot him.
Police said the victim attempted to escape, but the suspects chased him and repeatedly slammed him into the glass door of a nearby building. When he screamed for help, the suspects ran off.
The victim and a witness gave officers descriptions of the suspects, which police broadcast over the radio.
Members of the Chicago Police Department’s Citywide Robbery Task Force were already conducting a Robbery Enforcement Mission in the area and quickly began searching. Officers used CTA camera footage to follow the suspects to the 47th Street Red Line station, according to police.
When officers reached the station, an 18-year-old flagged them down and reported that the same suspects had just robbed him.
Police located the two juveniles and arrested them without incident. Authorities said multiple victims positively identified the pair.
Both juveniles now face charges of aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated robbery and aggravated battery in a public place.