Robbers Targeting Restaurant Customers In Lincoln Park

CHICAGO — More than nine people have been robbed in restaurants over the past few weeks in the Lincoln Park and Near North neighborhoods, police warned in a community alert. In each theft, a man approached a customer at a restaurant and showed them paperwork to solicit donations, police said. Each time the customer declined, the man stole the customer's phone and ran away, according to police.

The thefts occurred:

• in the 400 block of East Illinois St. on Monday, Jan. 21, in the afternoon hours;
• in the 1000 block of West North Ave. on Monday Jan. 21, in the afternoon hours;
• in the 1100 block of West North Ave. on Monday, Jan. 21, in the afternoon hours;
• in the 200 block of East Ontario St. on Monday, Jan. 21, in the afternoon hours;
• in the 600 block of North Dearborn St. on Monday, Jan. 21, in the afternoon hours;
• in the 300 block of West Hubbard St. on Saturday, Feb. 2, in the afternoon hours;
• in the 1400 N. Wells St. on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in the afternoon hours;
• in the 0-100 East Delaware Pl. on Saturday, Feb. 2, in the afternoon hours;
• in the 600 N. Wells St. on Sunday, Feb. 3, in the afternoon hours.

Anyone with information is asked to call Area Central detectives at (312) 747-8380.

File photo by Amber Fisher/Patch staff