In the past month, a group of armed robbers has hit Chicago pawn shops four times, taking control of the stores, breaking jewelry display cases, and compelling employees to open safes, according to police on Friday. This crew has targeted one location twice, as noted in a CPD community alert.
All the robberies were at Cash America locations, starting on July 2 and the most recent occurring Tuesday morning.
Police reported that the robbers arrive in a stolen gray or white Acura ADX, armed with handguns, and forcibly enter the stores. Inside, they demand keys and access codes to the safes and take money. They also break glass display cases and steal jewelry. During two incidents, employees were physically attacked. In one case, an employee’s wallet and personal cellphone were also stolen, police stated.
The first robbery was at 9:28 a.m. on July 2 at the Cash America on 4558 South Cicero Avenue, which was targeted again at 4:15 p.m. on August 1. The crew also robbed the Cash America on 1441 North Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park at 10:03 a.m. on July 6, and on Tuesday at 10:57 a.m., the Cash America on 2337 West Cermak Road was hit.
Surveillance footage from the Cermak Road robbery, released by CPD, shows the crew entering through the front door as a customer exits. Inside, one robber brandishes a handgun while the group smashes display cases and grabs merchandise. Despite having committed three similar robberies, they did not bring bags for the loot, instead attempting to carry the jewelry in their arms, frequently dropping items as they moved through the store.
Police described the suspects as Black males, between 5-foot-10 and 6 feet tall, weighing between 130 and 230 pounds.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Area One detectives at 312-747-8384, Area Four detectives at 312-746-8253, or Area Five detectives at 312-746-7394. Anonymous tips can be submitted via CPDTIP.com using reference number 26-CWP-019A.
