An armed robbery occurred at 700 East 58th Street on January 30 at approximately 7:23 a.m. A man approached a female victim from behind while she was walking east toward Cottage Grove. The offender demanded her purse. Without turning around, the victim refused to give the offender her purse, claiming that she did not have any money. The offender then made the victim turn around and displayed a handgun. The offender took the victim’s purse and ran away. He is still at large, and was described as a black man of medium build, in his mid-30s, with a thin mustache, and wearing red sweat pants.

An armed robbery took place at 5800 South Payne Avenue on January 30 at 5:45 p.m. A male offender approached a female victim and asked for bus fare. She refused until the offender pointed to his pants, where he was carrying a handgun. The victim gave the offender her shoulder bag, and the offender fled. The victim claims to have turned over $80 and personal items. The offender is still at large.

A fire occurred on February 2 at 2:52 a.m. at 5346 South Cornell Avenue. No one was injured in the fire, which originated on the eighth floor of the building. Although police speculate that an overload of appliances may have caused the fire, the bomb and arson squads are also investigating.