At least two businesses fell victim to robbers Thursday night as the city floats a proposal to have Chicago Police Department officers work as security in liquor stores and bars to slow down an uptick in robberies.

       Some aldermen are looking to make Chicago’s moonlighting rules more lenient for police officers. A panel of City Council members are expected to explore renegotiating rules, some of which prevent officers from bartending or owning taverns.

       Recently, armed robberies have plagued businesses citywide with robbers working as crews of two or more people.

       Shortly after 8:30 p.m., three men entered a shop in the 700 block of West Randolph Street on the Near West Side and approached the counter, authorities said. The men made their way behind the counter and took money from the register before fleeing the scene, Chicago police said.

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       Shortly before 9:45 p.m., police responded to a liquor store in the 3500 block of West Lawrence Avenue in the Albany Park neighborhood where two robbers came in and approached the counter, authorities said. One of the robbers was armed with a handgun and demanded money from the register, police said.

       The employee complied and the robbers fled the scene.

       Other armed robberies took place overnight Thursday on the West and North sides.

       Around midnight Friday, a man and a woman were walking in the 1800 block of West North Avenue in the Wicker Park neighborhood when they were approached by two males who pulled out a gun and demanded their belongings. The couple complied and the robbers fled in a gray sedan, police said.

       On the West Side, around 12:25 a.m., a 47-year-old woman was walking in the 2900 block of West Madison Street when she was surrounded by four males, two of whom were armed. They pointed their weapons at the woman and demanded her personal belongings, police said. She complied and the robbers fled the scene.

       About 10 minutes later, a man and a woman were victims of armed robbers in the 1300 block of North Wood Street on the Near West Side. The couple was approached by three males holding handguns demanding their belongings. The victims complied and the robbers fled in a dark-colored sedan, police said.

       No injuries were reported in any of the robberies and detectives were investigating.

       Originally Published: Sep 08, 2023 at 11:02 am