A slew of violent robberies have taken place in multiple neighborhoods across the city, police said.
A retired police officer had to get stitches after she was thrown to the ground and robbed on the 1800 block of West Cornelia on Monday, neighbors said.
A 14-year-old boy walking home in broad daylight when he was stripped of his cell phone one block away a day later, according to police.
“It’s a very quiet neighborhood,” Rachel Baker said. “It has felt very safe, and then this happened.”
Neighbors in Bucktown are on edge after police say thieves shot a man in the eye with a BB gun on the 2000 block of West Concord around 10 p.m. Monday night.
Police believe that same group of three struck two more times within the hour in nearby Logan Square.
“I worry for my employees a little bit some have to close up and leave when it's dark, especially as the winter comes,” said Stefan Hersh, who works in the neighborhood.
But the robberies are not limited to nighttime; Police and Alderman Tom Tunney said at least three robberies happened before sunrise this week in Lakeview."
“We have a lot of people who are very fit and want to get their day started with early running,” Tunney said. “I still say, make sure you are aware of your surroundings, take your iPod out of your ears, run with somebody.”
The majority of these incidents are still under investigation by police. However, police have arrested a 17-year-old man in the robbing of the 14-year-old.
