Elgin police investigating robbery, attempted robbery

Elgin police are investigating an armed robbery and an attempted armed robbery within one mile of each other over the past two days.

Police were called to a home on the 100 block of North Jane Drive around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday for an attempted armed robbery, according to a news release.

A woman told police she was parked in her driveway with her 16-year-old daughter when an unknown man opened the driver's-side door, pointed a gun at her and asked for her purse and cellphone. According to the release, the woman did not give the robber what he asked for and instead began to yell and activated the car's panic button. The man hit the woman in the head with the handgun, causing minor injuries, and ran away, police said.

He was described by police as a black man in his early 20s, about 5 feet 7 inches and 150 pounds, with short black hair and wearing a dark gray hooded sweatshirt.

Then, around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday about a mile away, police were called to Cornerstone Park near the 1500 block of Mulberry Lane where two teenagers said they were robbed.

Police officers found two boys, ages 15 and 17, who said they were approached by three unknown men who demanded cellphones and money and began hitting them with an unknown object, according to a news release. The men took the boys' phones and money and ran away.

The robbers in this case were described as three black men between 18 and 20 years old, all about 5'8 to 5'10" and with thin builds. Two were wearing hats.

Police are asking anyone with any information to call the Elgin Police Department's Major Investigations Division at (847) 289-2600. Additionally, individuals can provide anonymous tips or information via the crime line at (847) 695-4195 or texting 847411 and including ELGINPD in the beginning of the text, along with the message and/or tip information.