Police are warning diners at restaurants around Michigan Avenue downtown that if young men come up to you trying to raise money for their sports team, you may want to grab your cell phone -- before thieves do.
Police in the Central and Near North districts issued a business alert Thursday to let the businesses and their patrons know of an increase in thefts of cell phones in the past few days.
Sergeant Lawrence Coleman says the group knows exactly who to target.
"They act as if they are soliciting contributions for their basketball league," Coleman says. "They have fliers in their hand and they put them on top of the table, on top of a cell phone and talk to the victim and then as they are leaving, they grab the fliers back with the cell phone in hand.
Since Monday, they've struck four times, including a Chipotle Mexican Grill on North Michigan, a McDonalds on North Fairbanks and a Starbucks on East Ontario. The addresses are:
In the 300 block of North Michigan Avenue on Dec. 31 at 4:50 p.m.;
the 600 block of North Fairbanks Court on Jan. 2 at 5:45 p.m.;
the 100 block of North Wabash Avenue on Jan. 2 at 6:10 p.m.; and
the 400 block of East Ontario Street on Jan. 2 at 8:40 p.m.
A Starbucks employee says the victim of one theft chased the suspect out the Starbucks and injured his hand after trying to get his cell phone back by punching a hole in the window of the get away car. The suspects got away with his phone.
"It's not the first time, it's happened here at this Starbucks before when I have been here as well as our business next door - its' happened more often than we realize," Coleman explains.
The thieves, described only as black males between 14 and 25, are said to have been working in a group, leaving in a tan 4-door hardtop car, possibly a Buick, with unknown plates.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
Monday, February 25 2013 1:41 PM EST2013-02-25 18:41:37 GMT
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
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Tuesday, February 5 2013 3:09 PM EST2013-02-05 20:09:54 GMT
Millions and millions of people tuned in to watch the Super Bowl, and including our friends serving overseas. Thousands of Chicago-style pizzas were sent overseas Tuesday.
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Thursday, May 23 2013 10:55 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:55:34 GMT
As the country looks at the relief efforts in Oklahoma, Illinois is training for the same kind of disaster. The Illinois National Guard prepares every year for disaster events.
As the country looks at the relief efforts in Oklahoma, Illinois is training for the same kind of disaster. The Illinois National Guard prepares every year for disaster events.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:40 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:40:45 GMT
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Thursday, May 23 2013 8:32 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:32:17 GMT
A couple accused of murdering a 1-month-old boy and allegedly dumping the body in the Des Plaines River pleaded not guilty to the crime during a Thursday court hearing in Maywood.
A couple accused of murdering a 1-month-old boy and allegedly dumping the body in the Des Plaines River pleaded not guilty to the crime during a Thursday court hearing in Maywood.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:32 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:32:17 GMT
A couple accused of murdering a 1-month-old boy and allegedly dumping the body in the Des Plaines River pleaded not guilty to the crime during a Thursday court hearing in Maywood.
A couple accused of murdering a 1-month-old boy and allegedly dumping the body in the Des Plaines River pleaded not guilty to the crime during a Thursday court hearing in Maywood.
Thursday, May 23 2013 4:46 PM EDT2013-05-23 20:46:28 GMT
Thieves have struck a Streeterville area construction site a handful of times over the past week, taking tools and construction materials, police said.
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Thursday, May 23 2013 2:15 PM EDT2013-05-23 18:15:44 GMT
Antwone Price had just moved into a new house in the south suburbs, and he was talking about finally marrying the woman he'd been with for several years — the woman with whom he shared a baby girl.
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Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:14 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:14:22 GMT
A 19-year-old former student at Glenbard East High School in Lombard has been charged with planning to commit an act of violence at the school, DuPage County prosecutors announced Wednesday.
A 19-year-old former student at Glenbard East High School in Lombard has been charged with planning to commit an act of violence at the school, DuPage County prosecutors announced Wednesday.
