Chicago Chinatown robberies: Surveillance video captures 1 in 5 beatings, pepper spray attacks targeting elderly, CPD says

CHICAGO (WLS) — Surveillance video shows one of five robberies that Chicago police are warning Chinatown residents about.

The video shows the victim walking back to their apartment on Princeton Avenue on Tuesday when a masked man approaches from behind around 6:15 p.m.

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The victim is pushed to the ground and robbed of some cash before the suspect flees.

You can see the same suspect earlier in the week when he walks into one of those senior housing buildings on Princeton Avenue on an electric bicycle.

A longtime resident there, who does not want to be identified, says these robberies have gotten out of hand, and she wants more police in the neighborhood.

“This whole perimeter has to be watched, because if that’s not a target, they’re going to come back, because they’re going to see me get off the casino bus with all this money and, ‘I want it.’ They won’t care if they kill you or not,” she said.

Chicago police said the other four incidents, all involving people between the ages of 63 and 80, happened near Stewart and West 22nd Place, many near senior housing buildings.

Full list of robberies:

• 2200 block of South Princeton Avenue on Nov. 15 at 6:15 p.m
• 2200 block of South Princeton Avenue on Nov. 17 at 7 a.m
• 2300 block of South Stewart Avenue on Nov. 17 at 9 a.m
• 300 block of West 23rd Street on November 19 at 5:15 p.m
• 200 block of West 22nd on November 20 at 5:30 p.m

Police said in each incident, a suspect or group of suspects approach a senior citizen and push or punch him. Suspects brandish a pocket knife and/or spray their victims with mace or pepper spray.

The thieves then look for the victim and take the goods from their pockets or purses.

“It’s really disgusting when someone targets the elderly,” said Ald. Nicole Lee. “It makes no sense to me because the seniors in our community, they’re not walking around with their pockets full of money, so it’s very upsetting. It’s upsetting for the community. Obviously, families are very concerned about their elderly family members.”

Community activist Dr. Kim Tee has also advocated for additional police resources in the neighborhood over the past year as these crimes have become more common.

“They are very vulnerable and criminals are targeting them. We have to do something. We want the culprit to be caught immediately so he doesn’t hurt anyone else,” Tee said.

There are at least three criminals, police said.

One suspect is described as a man between 30 and 60 years old, who is between 5-foot-8 and 6-feet tall and weighs between 180 and 200 pounds. He has a short hairstyle and wears a black jacket, a black hooded sweatshirt and black or dark blue pants.

Another suspect is described as a woman between 40 and 50 years old, weighing between 120 and 150 pounds. She wears black pants and a white jacket.

Police said there was no detailed description of the third suspect.

“This is a very accessible community. People walk around. We have seven senior buildings in the 11th Ward, so it’s very disturbing that not just one, but potentially three different people are targeting our seniors,” Lee said.

Chicago police say no arrests have been made, but they are urging residents to be aware of their surroundings.

It is said that if you are ever robbed, it is best to remain calm and not chase or fight the offender.

Police asked anyone with information to call them at 312-747-8384.

“Anyone who has video cameras that may have observed any robberies, please contact detectives in Area 1 of the 9th District. We need people to be vigilant and help each other,” Lee said.

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