Thieves Are Using Force To Steal From Near North Side Stores, Police Warn
By Stephen Gossett in News on Nov 17, 2016 3:27PM
Getty Images / Photo: Joshua Lott
Updated 2:30 p.m.: Police say they have arrested two teenagers they say are responsible for two of the retails thefts. Mishael Cisneros, 18, has been arrested and charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery to a merchant for the Nov. 11 theft, and Dierra Bluitt, 18, has been charged with felony robbery, felony aggravated battery to a merchant and misdemeanor retail theft in the Nov. 5 theft.
Police are warning of a series of bold retail thefts in the downtown Chicago area that occurred within a recent two-week span.
The Thieves fought back with physical force whenever confronted, and one suspect drew a gun during an altercation, police said. The robberies were committed by a series of different people, but each used force at some point in the theft.
Incidents were reported for the following dates, times and locations:
700 Block of North Michigan on Nov. 11, during late afternoon hours
1200 Block of North Larrabee on Nov. 9, during early afternoon hours
800 Block of North Michigan on Nov. 5, during late afternoon hours
900 Block of North State on Nov. 1, during afternoon hours
The police alert says not engage anyone who is armed and to contact police immediately if you're the victim to a crime.