Mayor Rahm Emanuel gave a preliminary comment Thursday to a broad daylight mugging on Michigan Avenue this week.
A 68-year-old woman says she was surrounded by a group of young men on the 700 block of North Michigan Avenue and ordered to hand over her jewels and her purse, which amounted to around $100,000.
Emanuel told reporters Thursday that he wouldn't fully comment on the incident until he sees the police report, but he doesn't feel as if there's cause for alarm.
"There are a lot of police, presence on Michigan Avenue and yes, people feel safe because I talk to people constantly who note how safe they are," Emanuel said.
But Wednesday afternoon's mugging wasn't the only brazen daylight attack downtown that day. NBC 5 has learned two other attacks happened within 90 minutes of that crime.
Mike West was on his lunch break near Illinois and Orleans when he said a group of teens grabbed his phone and ran. As police came to his aid, he heard on the police radio that the same thing happened to his co-worker a few blocks away.
"It's like these gangs -- I don't know if they're organized or if they're one-offs -- but they're really hitting the heart of the city," West said.
On Thursday morning, an elderly man was knocked down and robbed of his wallet as he and his wife climbed the stairs of the Jackson subway station in the 300 block of South Dearborn.
Since last year's issues along the Mag Mile, Chicago Police have responded by dispatching more officers to patrol the area on bikes, horses and on foot.
The Michigan Avenue area was a frequent target last summer of rampaging teens intimidating pedestrians and at times assaulting and robbing individuals. The "wilding" instances may be organized through social media.
Last month, more than two dozen teens were arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery and reckless conduct after dozens of groups began randomly attacking pedestrians along the Mag Mile.
Nobody is in custody following Wednesday's mugging. Several surveillance cameras are in the area and were being reviewed for leads.
- April 1: 28 Arrested in Mag Mile Mob Attack
- April 1: Despite Mob Action, Shopper Say They Feel Safe Downtown
- April 1: Mag Mile Alderman Calls for More Cops
- April 25: Illinois Senate Targets Social Media-Fueled Mob Attacks
