Cabbies Put In Headlock During Armed Robberies In Lake View, Other Neighborhoods: Cops

CHICAGO, IL — Detectives are investigating a series of robberies of taxi drivers last week on the Northwest and North sides involving an armed suspect accused of posing as a fare, then putting the cabbies in a headlock and threatening them either with a knife and what victims believe is a handgun, according to a Chicago police alert. The victim in the most recent robbery was allegedly stabbed in the chest by the accused armed robber, police said.

The robberies happened between Friday, April 14, and Saturday, April 15, in the neighborhoods of Avondale, Bucktown, Lake View and Lincoln Park, according to the alert. In these incidents, the suspect hails a taxi, and once they reach the destination, he "announces a robbery by placing the victims in a headlock," police said.

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After the victim is in a headlock, the suspect allegedly pulls what he claims to be a handgun and puts the weapon to his victim's head, police said. The accused robber finally demands money and takes off with cash and cellphones, the alert stated.

In the last two robberies, the suspect allegedly threatened the victims with a large knife, police said. The suspect also allegedly stabbed the cabbie in the chest during the incident at 11 p.m. Saturday, April 15, in the Logan Square neighborhood, according to police.

The following locations are where the robberies happened and when they occured:

• 1:25 a.m. Friday, April 14: 2000 block of West Webster Avenue in the Bucktown neighborhood
• 3 and 3:20 a.m. Friday: 3500 block of West Melrose Street in the Avondale neighborhood
• 1:20 a.m. Saturday, April 15: 3700 block of North Clark Street in the Lake View neighborhood
• 4:15 a.m. Saturday: 2000 block of West Fullerton Avenue in the Bucktown neighborhood
• 11 p.m. Saturday: 2600 block of North Kimball Avenue in the Logan Square neighborhood.

Police described the suspect as a clean-shaven Hispanic man; between 5 feet, 7 inches and 5 feet, 9 inches tall; and weighing between 150 to 160 pounds. He has worn a black baseball cap, black hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans in the robberies, the alert stated.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the robberies should contact Area North detectives at 312-744-8263.

photo via Shutterstock

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