July 12, 2013 – Chicago police are warning River North residents about two late-night strong-arm robberies on Franklin Street in the past two weeks.

On June 29 in the 900 block of North Franklin Street, and again on July 6 in the 800 block, two men approached victims – one was walking down the street, the other getting out of a car – and punched them. They demanded their cell phones and money, then fled in what could only be described as a “silver colored vehicle.”

(Above) 2009 Google Street View of area where robberies occurred, near the intersection of North Franklin Street and West Chicago Avenue.

Both incidents happened between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. The suspects are described as black men, 20 to 25 years old, five-feet-seven-inches to five-feet-ten-inches tall, and 150 to 170 pounds.

Police sent out a community alert on Wednesday.