Police: 2 NW Side robberies stemmed from meetings set up on social media

(Chicago) Police are warning Albany Park residents on the North Side of armed robberies that occurred throughout November, including two stemming from meetings set up on social media.

In two of the three incidents, a meeting to buy or sell electronics was set up with the victim online, Area North detectives said in an alert. Then, upon meeting, two robbers stole from the person at gunpoint.

Those robberies happened in the 4400 block of North Hamlin at 12:20 a.m. Nov. 18 and the 3800 block of West Montrose at 4:25 p.m. Nov. 29, police said.

The third robbery was also reported in the 3800 block of West Montrose but involved a robber holding a male at gunpoint as he entered the gangway outside his apartment at 9:12 p.m. Nov. 30, police said.

The robbers have taken cash, cell phones, wallets and electronic equipment, police said.

The incidents with the arranged meetings involved separate pairs of robbers, police said. The Hamlin robbery involved two black males, one with a gray hooded sweatshirt and the other with a black North Face. In the second incident, the robbers were described as two Hispanic males in their late-teens or early 20s.

In the third incident, the robber was apparently wearing a dark jacket and a ski mask, police said.

Anyone with information should call Area North detectives at (312) 744-8263.