Man impersonating FBI agent robs 3rd person on South Side
BY ALLISON HORTON Staff Reporter September 29, 2013 9:30PM
A man pretending to be a federal officer may have used a Mercury Mountaineer similar to this one in South Shore robberies. | Provided by Chicago Police
A man calling himself “Officer Franklin” and posing as a federal agent to rob people on the South Side struck again Saturday night — the third robbery in two weeks.
The man was driving an SUV when he identified himself as a federal agent conducting a homicide investigation and ordered a 41-year-old man into his vehicle about 11 p.m. in the 7000 block of South Justine, Chicago Police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli said.
After the fake officer raised his voice and again ordered the man to get inside the vehicle, the victim complied, Mirabelli said.
The fake officer then drove to the 8000 block of South Oakley and told the man to empty his pockets, Mirabelli said.
He then stole the man’s cash, told him to get out of the SUV and drove away, Mirabelli said.
In previous robberies, the fake officer showed victims a silver semi-automatic handgun, police said. Those happened about 3 p.m. Sept. 15 in the 7700 block of South Colfax and about 2:10 p.m. Tuesday in the 8100 block of South Paxton, police said.
The fake officer does not show police credentials or wear a uniform, police said.
He drives a light-color SUV, possibly a late-model Mercury Mountaineer or Toyota 4Runner with temporary plates, police said.
Police advise people to ask for identification and to use common sense if asked to enter an unknown person’s vehicle.
Anyone with information should contact detectives at (312) 747-8273 or email tips to area2tip@chicagopolice.org.
