Executive Summary
- CPD has linked four armed robberies in Woodlawn to a suspect using a dating app to lure victims.
- All incidents occurred in the 6600 block of South Blackstone Avenue during February 2026.
- The suspect is described as a male, approximately 22 years old, who threatens victims with a gun.
- Police are requesting tips be directed to Area One detectives or submitted anonymously online.
CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Department (CPD) has issued an expanded community alert regarding a series of armed robberies in the Woodlawn neighborhood, where a suspect allegedly utilizes a dating application to lure victims to a specific location before robbing them at gunpoint. Police have linked at least four separate incidents to this pattern, all occurring within the 6600 block of South Blackstone Avenue on the city’s South Side.
According to the police report, the victims arranged to meet the suspect through a dating app. Investigators state that upon the victims’ arrival at the agreed-upon location, the suspect brandished a firearm and demanded their property. In each documented incident, the victims complied with the demands and surrendered their belongings. The authorities have not reported any physical injuries associated with these specific thefts.
CPD records indicate the robberies have occurred over the course of February. The most recent incident took place on a Monday morning at approximately 11:40 a.m., following a robbery the previous Saturday at around 3:00 p.m. Two earlier incidents were reported on February 12 at 12:30 a.m. and February 5 at 12:50 p.m. Area One detectives describe the suspect as a male, approximately 22 years of age, standing about 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing between 165 and 190 pounds. He was observed wearing a black jacket and black pants.
Investigative Outlook
This series of robberies highlights a recurring modus operandi involving online dating platforms, prompting law enforcement to urge heightened caution during initial in-person meetings. The geographic concentration of the crimes in the Woodlawn neighborhood suggests a targeted pattern, allowing detectives to focus their surveillance and investigative resources on the South Blackstone Avenue corridor. Police are urging anyone with information to contact Area One detectives or submit anonymous tips using reference #P26-1-017A. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
