Teens charged in robbery spree
by KEVIN GROSS
Two juveniles were charged in connection with a string of more than 11 robberies that occurred mostly in the 17th (Albany Park) Police District in the morning on Monday, March 19, according to the Chicago Police Department Office of News Affairs.
The Chicago Police Department Bureau of Detectives Area North issued a community alert on March 19 stating that robberies occurred at 3:10 p.m. Saturday, March 17 in the 4600 block of West Warwick Avenue, at 7:13 p.m. Sunday, March 18 in the 5900 block of North Magnolia Avenue, at 11:40 p.m. March 18 in the 3300 block of West Balmoral Avenue, at 12:55 a.m. March 19 in the 6300 block of North Winthrop Avenue, and at 1:47 a.m. March 19 in the 7200 block of North Ridge Boulevard.
Later the morning of March 19, several incidents occurred starting at 3:50 a.m. in the 4500 block of Christiana Avenue, at 3:57 a.m. in the 4400 block of North Kostner Avenue, at 4:30 a.m. in the 3600 block of West Wilson Avenue, at 4:36 a.m. in the 4000 block of North Albany Avenue, and at 4:50 and 4:52 a.m. in the 4800 and 4900 blocks of North Kimball Avenue, according to police.
Police said that additional robberies occurred at 4:55 a.m. in the 3100 block of West Wilson Avenue, at 5:15 a.m. in the 3500 block of West Argyle Street, at 5:19 and 5:30 a.m. in the 3400 block of West Montrose Avenue, and at 6:04 a.m. in the 1800 block of West Juneway Terrace.
The juveniles were arrested at about 1:30 p.m. March 19, after officers found them running from a 2005 Nissan Sentra after they arrived to the scene of a traffic crash in the 7600 block of West Rogers Avenue, according to News Affairs.
Police superintendent Eddie Johnson said at a press conference held late morning March 19 before the arrest that officers would be searching for the stolen Nissan, which was captured on surveillance cameras during some of the robberies.
The robbery victims reported that a group of males approached them, struck them about the body, displayed a handgun or knife and then demanded their property, primarily taking cellphones and wallets, according to police.
Police are investigating if the two males were involved in all of the incidents listed in the community alert, according to News Affairs.
The suspects were identified by police as males age 15 and 16. The 15-year-old was charged with one felony count of robbery and one felony count of theft less than $500. The 16-year-old was charged with two felony counts of unlawful possession of credit or debit cards.
