Robbers Setting Up Roadblocks in Chicago

roadblock

In a new twist on crime, criminals are using a fake roadblock to rob drivers in Chicago neighborhood of Fuller Park. When people come up on the roadblock, they are forced to stop, get out of their cars to move a construction barrel out of the way. That’s when the criminals pounce.

This ruse is also effective since legitimate construction work had already shut down one lane along the stretch of West 51st Street where the crimes are taking place. Police say it is just a matter of moving one construction barrel out on to the road to block the other lane.

The crimes were also violent. According to police, some victims were first beaten before being robbed by between three or four male suspects.

According to ABC affiliate WLS TV, “the first victim was robbed around 6 p.m. on March 26 in the 300-block of West 51st Street” while “a second victim was robbed around 6:15 p.m. Sunday in the 400-block of West 51st Street.”

Fuller Park resident Latonia Jackson is quoted in the news report as saying,

“I think it’s terrible. I live in the neighborhood. It’s unsafe for everybody. It’s unsafe for visitors. They don’t know who they’re robbing. They don’t know if they’re robbing family members of people in the neighborhood or friends or whoever it may be.”

Police described the suspects as “three to four males between 17 and 23, about 5-foot-11 to 6-foot-3, and 180-220 pounds”.