Suspect wanted in connection to 11 armed robberies involving Chicago restaurants
Video is from a previous report.
CHICAGO (CBS) – Police say one man is responsible for robbing at least 11 sandwich shops and other restaurants across a wide swath of Chicago – sometimes at gunpoint.
The robber hit restaurants in eight neighborhoods between June and July – West Loop, Little Italy, Wicker Park, West Town, River North, the Loop, Bridgeport, and Garfield Ridge
Police say the suspect would enter business, go behind the counter, and either remove money from the register or order the employee to remove the money at gunpoint.
In one of the incidents, the suspect became aggressive and struck the victim in the side of the face.
All but one of the businesses the robber targeted were Subway restaurants. Another shop was robbed early Monday morning in Bridgeport.
"These guys are bold," said shop owner Harry Patel. "They don't care."
The armed robbery in Bridgeport was caught on camera early Monday morning. Surveillance video shows a man pulling out a gun and threatening to shoot the employee.
The suspect is seen taking money from the cash register before taking off. Owner Patel rushed over after he got the call.
"I got a call from my employee saying that he just got robbed," Patel said. "The offender came in and bought a bottle of drink and chips, he put it at the register, and gave him the money. When he tried to open the register, that's when he put a gun to his face – and the employee complied, and he took the money."
This was the first time this has happened in the more than 20 years Patel has owned the Bridgeport shop.
"It's not only the money. It's the employee shaken up. I'm kind of frustrated," Patel said. "I'm not the only one getting robbed like this. It's happened all over the city. Something has to change."
This comes after a warning from police about at least eight other sandwich shop armed robberies in several Chicago neighborhoods. One of them was hit twice. Since then, three more robberies were also reported this week, with two happening Friday Morning.
Incident times and locations:
- 1200 block of South Canal Street on June 25 at 4:20 a.m.
- 700 block of South Western Avenue on June 26 at 11:47 a.m.
- 2500 block of West North Avenue on June 27 at 10:45 a.m.
- 700 block of North Milwaukee Avenue on June 30 at 9:00 a.m.
- 0-99 block of West Ohio Street on July 8 at 4:00 a.m.
- 1200 block of South Canal Street on July 15 at 3:45 a.m.
- 1600 block of West Roosevelt Road on July 16 at 10:28 p.m.
- 600 block of South Wabash Avenue on July 18 at 3:48 a.m.
- 700 block of West 31st St on July 24 at 1:36 a.m.
- 5400 block of South Harlem Ave on July 28 at 3:25 a.m.
- 4700 block of South Cicero Ave on July 28 at 7:40 a.m.
The suspect is described as an African American man between 20-35 years old, between 5-feet-10 to 6-feet-4 in height, and weighing 175 to 200 pounds.
Police say the suspect was seen fleeing the scene in a dark blue or black SUV from the two most recent robberies.
They have not said if the Bridgeport crime is connected to these incidents.
"Thank God no one got hurt," Patel said.
Many of the Subway franchises that were targeted are open 24 hours. But the crimes have happened at all hours – even broad daylight.
The only shop that was robbed which was not a Subway was a gyros spot on Western Avenue near Polk Street, which was robbed in June. The owner said the suspect had a gun and made off with a couple hundred bucks.
He too told us he is grateful no one got hurt.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bureau of Detectives - Area 3 Detective Division at 312-744-8263.
