Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Luxury, comfort and safe streets are usually what spring to mind when one thinks of the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

But violent robbers have savagely beaten four people in the neighborhood since Thursday, and a warning is going out that if you're walking late at night, you may be in danger.

As CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports, the four "strong arm" robberies happened on Thursday and Saturday. Police say the victims never saw their attackers coming.

During the day, the neighborhood is full of people. But late at night, neighbors say it's a different story.

"It's kind of deserted; there are people here and there," said neighbor Laura Nardella.

Police say a gang of criminals is taking advantage of the hush. Since Thursday, four men in their 20s have been brutally beaten and robbed in surprise attacks.

"It's terrible, it's terrible," said Lincoln Park resident Edgardo Rodriguez. 'I'm very surprised about it. For the most part, this is supposed to be a very quiet area."

Those living in Lincoln Park are stunned by the four vicious strong arm robberies that have taken place in their neighborhood in the past three days.

"They just hit them and hit them, and keep hitting them," said Sgt. Timothy Kusinski of the Belmont Area Detective Division. "Two of the victims have been hospitalized. One is still currently in the hospital."

Two attacks happened on Thursday: the first at 2 a.m. on the 600 block of West Fullerton Parkway; the second at 2:05 a.m. on the 2100 block of North Stockton Drive, across from Lincoln Park Zoo.

Then on Saturday, there were two more attacks: one at 3 a.m. on the 2000 block of North Cleveland Avenue; the other at 3:36 a.m. on the 300 block of West Webster Avenue.

All four victims were men in their early to mid-20s and walking alone. Each was confronted on foot from behind by at least four attackers, who were also men in their 20s. The victims were asked for their wallets, then savagely beaten in the head and face.

News of the attacks and the community alert issued by police has disturbed many in Lincoln Park.

"It's terrifying; I mean, I'm a single woman walking alone all the time, so you just never know," Nardella said.

"That's really scary. I just moved in so, I don't really know what to expect," said area resident Anne Rowles. "I don't know too many people in the area, so I guess I'll have to be more careful, not stay out late and always be with somebody."

David Holingue has lived in Lincoln Park all his life.

"We're having a rash of burglaries and people being attacked," said Holingue. "It's bad again. I assume it's the economy, but it's bad again."

Holingue says his mother's house was burglarized just four weeks ago.

Holingue says he thinks there need to be more patrols in the area.

"No question about it," he said. "And the problem is because of traffic. They have a lot of trouble getting here, even when they hear the calls – the street people, the crooks, they know."

"We've taken steps to increase patrols over there," said Kusinski. "We have some people working over there now to see what we can do to hopefully find these people."

Police say to stay safe, walk in lit areas and in pairs. Each victim was alone, early in the morning, making them more vulnerable to an attack.

Police say because of the nature of the attacks, with the suspects approaching the vicitms from behind, they are having a difficult time getting descriptions of the attackers. But in at least one of the attacks, a victim said he thought the suspects were driving an small, older-model maroon car.

Anyone with information on the robberies is asked to call 911, or Belmont Area detectives at (312) 744-8263.

CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot and Mai Martinez contributed to this report.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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