Suspected bicycle-riding robbers arrested

Aug. 25, 2014 - Two juveniles and an adult have been arrested in connection with weekend robberies committed by groups on bicycles who surrounded their victims and took their cell phones and wallets.

Groups of six to 10 individuals on bicycles took cell phones and wallets from individuals in the 1100 block of North Ridgeland Avenue, 300 block of Thomas Street and 100 block of Lake Street between10:45 and 11 p.m., Sunday.

In what Police believe is a related incident, a group on bicycles rode into a block party just before midnight Saturday in the 700 block of North Taylor Avenue and took a cell phone from a table, where the phone had been used to play music.

The robbery victims told Police that although no weapons were seen, their assailants said they were armed.

One of the suspects, a juvenile, was caught within minutes of the Thomas Street robbery thanks to a location application on one of the stolen phones. The victims identified the suspect, who was picked up in 100 block of Washington Boulevard.

Chicago Police arrested two other suspects for similar crimes, and made the connection to the incidents in Oak Park. Additional arrests are likely, police say.

“These types of crimes are among the disadvantages of sharing a border with a major metropolitan area as criminals can simply hop on a bicycle, cross the border to commit crimes and then flee back into a dense, urban neighborhood,” said Oak Park Police Chief Rick Tanksley.

“It is with crimes such as these that law enforcement agencies often must rely on cooperation and coordination to make arrests. That is exactly what we were able to do with these individuals.”

Tanksley praised the victims for keeping calm, complying with their assailants’ demands and quickly notifying the police. No injuries were reported.

The investigation is continuing.