Imagine this: You’ve just said goodnight to your friends, closed your bar tab, and called an Uber. When your phone pings with “Driver arriving in 3 minutes,” you step outside to look for your car. Then four men emerge into the street lights, surround you, flash a gun, and demand you empty your pockets. This Uber mugging isn’t the opening of some thriller movie. It’s a real nightmare Chicago residents are living through.

Late-night Uber pickups turn into dangerous muggings

Since January 5, 2025, at least eight armed robberies have hit Wrigleyville, Gold Coast, and Lakeview East. The pattern is always the same: Victims leave a bar, stand outside waiting for an Uber, and three to four men—armed and masked—move in for a mugging.

They flash a gun or use force, steal phones, wallets, and cash, then vanish into the night. The victims think they’re catching a ride home, but instead, they get caught in a robbery.

Chicago robbers are after more than just your phone

Chicago police warn that these thieves aren’t just looking for quick cash—they’re after everything in your bank account. Once they have your phone, they can access banking apps, payment services, and personal data before victims even react.

That means by the time you call your bank, your money could already be gone. Many of these Uber muggings don’t stop at stolen wallets. The thieves are draining accounts within minutes.

Where and when the Uber muggings happen

Chicago police have tracked at least eight incidents between 1:30 a.m. and 3:45 a.m. in these locations:

• January 5: 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. – 3500 block of North Clark Street
• January 11: 1:10 a.m. – 3500 block of North Clark Street | 3:00 a.m. – 0-100 block of West Division Street
• January 12: 2:16 a.m. – 0-100 block of East Elm Street
• February 9: 2:00 a.m. – 1000 block of West Newport Avenue
• February 23: 1:55 a.m. – 3500 block of North Clark Street | 3:45 a.m. – 3600 block of North Clark Street

Police describe the suspects as three to four Black males, ages 16-25. These criminals know the best time for an Uber mugging is when bars let out, and riders are distracted.

How to avoid becoming a robbery victim

They hit at bar close, when you’re distracted, alone, and staring at your phone. Don’t give them the chance.

Stay inside until your ride arrives. Your driver will ping you and should wait at least five minutes to depart. Stand in a group. Keep your head up. Consider installing an anti-theft app on your phone, such as “Prey.” The best way to avoid being a target is to never look like one.

With Uber muggings on the rise, Chicago police urge riders to take extra precautions. Thieves count on you being too distracted to notice them—don’t give them that chance.