17-Nov-16 – Chicago Police Department is warning businesses downtown about recent daytime thefts north of the river that turned violent.

Suspects enter the store, take items, and when confronted by store personnel, respond with physical force. In one incident, a gun was pointed at an employee. The same people are not necessarily committing each theft but they are all resorting to force when confronted.

The incidents happened on November 1 in the 900 block of North State Street, November 5 in the 800 block of North Michigan Avenue, November 9 in the 1200 block of North Larrabee Street, and on November 11 in the 700 block of North Michigan Avenue.

On Thursday, CPD announced the arrest of two 18-year-olds, each involved with at least one of the incidents. Mishael Cisneros was charged with felony retail theft and two felony counts of aggravated battery to a merchant. Dierra Bluitt was charged with felony robbery, felony aggravated battery to a merchant, and misdemeanor retail theft.