CPD: Elderly residents targeted in 16 home robberies across 6 South Side neighborhoods

CHICAGO (WGN) — The Chicago Police Department sent out a community alert Sunday morning, warning South Siders of a group of criminals who have committed at least 16 home robberies of elderly residents in six different neighborhoods.

CPD said a group of at least six people, consisting of three Hispanic males, one Hispanic female, a white female and an unknown male, has targeted elderly residents in Garfield Ridge, Brighton Park, Bridgeport, McKinley Park, Scottsdale and Armour Square throughout the month of August.

Incident dates and locations

• 4700 block of South Lawler Avenue on Aug. 5, 2025, at 1:22 p.m. (Garfield Ridge)

• 3600 block of South Maplewood Avenue on Aug. 5, 2025, at 4:38 p.m. (Brighton Park)

• 4200 block of South California Avenue on Aug. 8, 2025, at 3:10 p.m. (Brighton Park)

• 2800 block of South Pitney Court on Aug. 9, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. (Bridgeport)

• 5800 block of South Nottingham Avenue on Aug. 10, 2025, between 12:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. (Garfield Ridge)

• 3300 block of South Seeley Avenue on Aug. 10, 2025, at 1:43 p.m. (McKinley Park)

• 8500 block of South Kolin Avenue on Aug. 11, 2025, at 12:40 p.m. (Scottsdale)

• 2600 block of South Shields Avenue on Aug. 14, 2025, at 10:00 p.m. (Armour Square)

• 2800 block of South Wallace Street on Aug. 18, 2025, at 2:05 p.m. (Bridgeport)

• 3400 block of South Wallace Street on Aug. 18, 2025, at 6:05 p.m. (Bridgeport)

• 5400 block of South Natoma Avenue on Aug. 19, 2025, 9:30 a.m. (Garfield Ridge)

• 1700 block of West 34th Street on Aug. 19, 2025, between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. (McKinley Park)

• 5100 block of South Lockwood Ave on Aug. 19, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. (Garfield Ridge)

• 3600 block of South Emerald Ave on Aug. 21, 2025, between 7:00 a.m. and 9:20 p.m. (Bridgeport)

• 8600 block of South Keating Ave on Aug. 23, 2025, at 1:45 p.m. (Scottsdale)

• 5000 block of South Kilpatrick Ave on Aug. 23, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. (Garfield Ridge)

The group uses a series of tactics to get victims to exit their residences to gain access to where they live and rob them of their belongings.

Police said in some instances, they told victims they hit their garage door with their vehicle. Other times, they claimed to be City of Chicago Water Department employees or construction workers doing work nearby. They have also been opportunistic, waiting for residents to take out their trash or be away from their homes for an extended period of time.

The group has also used an array of vehicles and communicated with handheld radios to coordinate their robberies. CPD describes their vehicles as a white van without license plates, a gray 2023 Chevrolet Colorado without license plates, a black Chevrolet Traverse with custom White Rims, and/or a white pickup truck.

Suspect descriptions

The Hispanic female is described as being around 5 feet tall and weighing 120 pounds with brown eyes and a short, black hairstyle. The white female is around 5 feet 3 inches tall with hazel eyes and a light complexion.

One of the Hispanic males is described as being 48-58 years old, around 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing around 175-180 pounds, having gray short hair, and wearing a black baseball cap with a red “B” on the front. Victims said he also wears white glasses, a black mask, and a white shirt with white pants.

Police describe the other two Hispanic males as one wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans, while the other is 20-25 years old, 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall, and weighs around 140 pounds. He has been seen wearing a beige baseball cap, white face mask, an orange and yellow vest, light green shirt and blue pants.

The unknown male is said to have been seen wearing an American flag ski mask, white t-shirt, black pants and black boots.

There are also other unknown members of the group.

What you can do

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Be cautious of persons engaging you in conversation to lure you from your residence.
• Keep the perimeter of your property well lit.
• Keep doors/windows secured/locked.
• Immediately repair any broken windows, doors or locks.
• Immediately report suspicious activity.
• Never pursue a fleeing assailant, provide the information to the police.
• If video surveillance is available, save a copy of the incident for investigating detectives.
• If approached by a witness to the incident, request their contact information.
• If you are a victim do not touch anything, call police immediately.

Immediately dial 9-1-1 and remain on the scene when possible.

If you or someone you know has information that can help lead police toward making an arrest and conviction in the investigation of these incidents, CPD asks you to reach out to Area One detectives at 312-747-8380.

Anonymous tips can also be filed online with police at cpdtip.org.