Chicago Police are busy investigating least 21 armed robberies or attempted robberies that have been reported since July 28.

Chicago police are warning people to be on alert following a string of armed robberies in the city since late July.

At least 21 armed robberies or attempted robberies have been reported since July 28. Nearly half of the incidents have occurred on the city’s West Side.

Police believe that the same three individuals did nine of the robberies, exiting a silver sedan to take property from individuals in all nine incidents.

The thieves in the silver sedan struck at:

• 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8 on the 1500 block of North Milwaukee, robbing a 53-year-old man of his cell phone and wallet at gunpoint. The man said he was walking on the sidewalk when three men exited the sedan.
• 1 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8 on the 2000 block of West Superior in the city’s West Town neighborhood, robbing a 36-year-old man of his cell phone. The victim sustained a minor injury to the head in the incident.
• 1 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8 on the 200 block of West Superior, taking a 30-year-old female bicyclist’s cell phone and bag at gunpoint. The woman said the robbers cut her off and forced her off the street. She sustained a minor injury during the incident.
• 1:49 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8 on the 3000 block of West Armitage in the city’s Logan Square neighborhood, taking a 32-year-old male bicyclist’s cell phone and backpack at gunpoint. The man said he was riding his bike when he was cut off and forced off the street. The victim sustained a minor injury in the incident.
• 1:58 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8 on the 3000 block of West Armitage, where they took a 30-year-old male bicyclist’s cell phone and backpack at gunpoint. The man said he was cut off and forced off the street. He sustained a minor injury during the incident.
• 12:53 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9 on the 1600 block of West Chicago Avenue in the city’s West Town neighborhood, taking cell phones and money from 18- and 26-year-old men as they were walking on the sidewalk. The offenders displayed handguns.
• 1 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9 on the 1800 block of West Chicago Avenue in the city’s West Town neighborhood, robbing a 42-year-old woman of her purse at gunpoint. The woman was standing on the sidewalk with a 52-year-old man when four males exited the sedan with handguns and announced a robbery.
• 1:05 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9 on the 2800 block of West Chicago Avenue in the city’s West Town neighborhood, attempting to rob at gunpoint 36- and 29-year-old men, who were standing on the sidewalk. The offenders fled with no proceeds.
• 1:12 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9 on the 800 block of North Orleans in the city’s River North neighborhood, robbing two males who were walking on the sidewalk of their cell phones and wallets. A dark gray sedan was used in addition to the silver or gray sedan.

In the other robberies and attempted robberies:

• A 52-year-old man was shot in the leg at 3:32 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1 on the 3200 block of Kildare in the city’s Irving Park neighborhood. Two offenders approached the man and attempted to take his belongings. One of the offenders discharged a firearm, striking the victim in the leg. The victim was transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital, where he was initially listed in critical condition.

• A 33-year-old man was robbed at 2:22 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 3 on the 900 block of North Michigan Avenue in the city’s Streeterville neighborhood. The man said he was on the street when a dark SUV approached, and two males exited with handguns and demanded property. The offenders forcefully took the victim’s property and fled westbound on Delaware. The victim was not hurt and refused medical attention.
• An offender entered a business on the 900 block of North Rush Street in the city’s Rush & Division neighborhood, at 10:47 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, taking merchandise. The offender entered the business through the back door and was brandishing a handgun. The robber threatened to use force while pointing the gun at business employees. The offender fled through the back door where he was observed entering a black Yukon truck. No one was hurt during the incident.
• A male with a handgun entered a restaurant on the 3800 block of West 79^th Street in the city’s Ashburn neighborhood at 8:57 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, and announced a robbery. A 35-year-old driver for the restaurant struggled with the robber and sustained a gunshot wound to the right leg. The Chicago Fire Department transported the victim to Christ Hospital, where he was listed in fair condition.
• Three males with handguns entered a fast-food restaurant on the 3900 block of South Archer in the city’s Brighton Park neighborhood at 12:42 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9 and announced a robbery. The offenders took the cash drawer and robbed eight customers of their property before fleeing. The 35-year-old male clerk sustained a laceration to the shoulder and was transported to St. Anthony Hospital in good condition.
• A 37-year-old man was standing on the street on the 1800 block of North Avondale in the city’s Bucktown neighborhood when three offenders with handguns exited a white Kia and demanded property. The victim was not hurt and the offenders re-entered their vehicle with the victim’s proceeds and headed westbound.

Police also warned residents of the 1^st (Central) 12^th (Near West) and 20^th (Lincoln) police districts about armed robberies.

In each of the incidents, offenders arrived, approached the victims in a stolen vehicle, exited the vehicle, displayed multiple firearms, and demanded victims’ personal belongings.

The robberies were in the West Town, West Loop and West Ridge neighborhoods.

The incidents occurred at:

• 4 a.m. July 28 on the 2800 block of West Cortez Street
• 4:50 a.m. July 28 on the 500 block of West Kinzie Street
• 4:55 a.m. July 28 on the first block of South Jefferson Street
• 5:03 a.m. July 28 on the 400 block of North Racine Avenue
• 5:27 a.m. July 28 on the 1900 block of West Divison Street
• 5:40 a.m. July 28 on the 3000 block of West Peterson Avenue

Offenders in the July 28 burglaries were described as black males, 15-29 years old, wearing dark-colored clothing and black ski masks.

Chicago police offered the following tips:

• Be aware of the crimes and alert family and friends who live in the areas.
• Always be aware of your surroundings and free from distractions.
• If you are confronted by an assailant, try to remain calm.
• Pay special attention to suspicious individuals or vehicles in the area.
• Call 911 immediately if you are a victim or witness to a crime and provide a detailed description of the offender(s), including any vehicle information and license plate information.
• If approached by a witness to an incident, request he or she remain on the scene, when possible, or obtain contact information.

Anyone with information about any of the robberies should contact the Chicago Police Department’s Bureau of Detectives for Area 3 at 312-744-8263.