Robbers fired shots at worker who saw them stealing tools from his work vehicle

Gang of Armed Thieves Targeting Construction Workers in West Rogers Park

A gang of armed thieves in a stolen car fired shots at a contractor who caught them raiding his work vehicle in West Rogers Park early Monday morning.

Chicago police suspect the brazen robbery is part of a growing wave of thefts targeting construction workers and contractors citywide.

The robbery unfolded around 5:46 a.m. in the 6800 block of North Seeley when the worker spotted three men pilfering tools from his work vehicle, according to a Chicago police report.

When the crooks noticed the man, at least one pulled out a gun and fired shots in his direction, a CPD spokesperson said. No one was hurt by the gunfire.

The robbers, dressed in dark clothing with face masks, matched the description of crews that have been involved in at least a dozen similar crimes over the past month.

Video showed them fleeing in a black Infiniti, which police may have recovered shortly after the crime. Witnesses told cops they saw four males ditch the stolen Infiniti and hop into another getaway car.

The crew was described as Black males in their mid- to late teens, wearing ski masks and dark clothing—except for the gunman, who wore a blue hoodie, according to a witness.

Last week, a social media video showed a crew of masked and armed thieves targeting a work truck in Portage Park. And the week before that, CWBChicago reported on two robberies of construction crews, one in Lincoln Park and the other in Logan Square. Victims were robbed at gunpoint in both of those incidents.

CPD has also issued a series of community alerts about similar robberies at work sites.

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