27-Oct-19 – Chicago police are warning about smartphone robberies in River North during which the victim is struck in the head and body.

In each incident, the victim was approached by one to three men who took the victim’s phone by force.

Five robberies happened on or near North State Street between October 16 and October 21. On October 16, a robbery happened at about 9:00 p.m. in the 300 block of North State Street and the next night, at about the same time, in the 800 block of North State Street.

Three robberies happened on October 21 – at 2:30 a.m. near North State Street & West Grand Avenue, 5:30 a.m. in the 700 block of North State Street, and 4:45 p.m. in the 800 block of North State Street.

Police describe the suspects as black and 15 to 30 years old.