Police: Robbers Attack After Arranging Meetings on Social Media

An Albany Park resident on Wednesday said he's had trouble sleeping since he was robbed at gunpoint outside his apartment.

Police warn that what happened to the man -- who wished to be identified only as Joe -- was the third such attack in the area in November.

Joe said he was outside his apartment on the 3800 block of West Montrose on Nov. 30 when someone came running up from behind with a warning not to look at him.

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"Give me that s****, and give me what you got in your pocket," Joe recalled his attacker saying.

Joe said he didn't believe what was happening until he saw the shine of a handgun, and that's when he handed over his wallet and phone.

Police said two of the robberies have a tie: a meeting arranged via social media to buy and sell electronic equipment.

The first robbery occurred on the 4400 block of North Hamlin Avenue on Nov. 18 at about 12:20 a.m. Police said the attackers were black males. One wore a gray hooded sweatshirt. The other was wearing a black North Face jacket.

The second and third robberies both occurred on the 3800 block of West Montrose on Nov. 29 at about 4:25 p.m. and on Nov. 30 at about 9:12 p.m. In the second case, the robbers were described as Hispanic men in their late teens or early 20s. One was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt.

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The person who attacked Joe was described only by his clothing: a dark jacket and a ski mask.

In all three incidents, police said the robbers displayed a silver revolver.

Joe said he planned to install lights this week on the dark alley entrance to his apartment.