7 robbed, 1 carjacked in hour-and-a-half-long crime spree on Southwest Side

CHICAGO — An hour-and-a-half-long crime spree on the city’s Southwest Side on Tuesday morning has prompted a warning from Chicago police as the search for the individuals responsible continues.

Police said a group of one to six individuals was involved in seven armed robberies and one-armed carjacking between 5 a.m. and 6:34 a.m. on Tuesday in several Southwest Side neighborhoods.

According to police, during the first incident at 5 a.m., the group of offenders approached a victim in a stolen silver/gray BMW X1, with no license plates, and held him at gunpoint before robbing him and stealing his silver GMC Envoy SUV.

Officers said over the next hour and a half, the group then used the stolen GMC in a string of seven armed robberies. During one of the incidents, police said one of the offenders pistol-whipped one of the victims.

Police said following the crime spree, the stolen GMC Envoy was recovered.

Authorities are now offering a warning to Southwest Side residents as they work to track down the individuals responsible.

Chicago police provided the following list of locations and times where the incidents occurred on Tuesday, Sept. 24:

• 2600 block of West Pershing Road, in Brighton Park, at 5 a.m.
• 6100 block of South California Avenue, in Chicago Lawn, at 5:30 a.m.
• 6200 block of South Sacramento Avenue, in Chicago Lawn, at 5:45 a.m.
• 3300 block of West 62nd Place, in Chicago Lawn, at 5:58 a.m.
• 6200 block of South Karlov Avenue, in West Lawn, at 6:05 a.m.
• 6200 block of South Parkside Avenue, in Clearing, at 6:20 a.m.
• 5900 block of West 60th Street, in Clearing, at 6:25 a.m.
• 6100 block of South Austin Avenue, in Clearing, at 6:34 a.m.

Officers said they believe the group was made of three to six Hispanic men who are believed to be between 19 and 30 years of age.

During each incident, the offenders were spotted wearing black or dark-colored clothing and black ski masks.

Tips from Chicago police

Officers advise the public to remain aware of their surroundings and stay free from distractions.

According to officers, anyone who is confronted by an assailant should try to remain calm.

Those who fall victim or witness a crime should call 911 immediately and provide authorities with a detailed description of the offenders.

Authorities warn the public never to pursue a fleeing assailant and instead work to remember any unique physical characteristics of the offenders.

Anyone with information on the crime spree is asked to contact CPD Area One detectives at 312-747-8384 or dial 911.

Those with information that could help detectives in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com . Tips can be filed anonymously.

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