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Man Charged In Lincoln Park Robberies

CHICAGO (STMW) – A Northwest Side man stands accused of robbing Lincoln Park businesses while armed with a knife and syringe.

Austin Pierce, 25, of the 2800 block of North Oakley Avenue, has been charged with three counts of armed robbery with a dangerous weapon, police announced Friday night. Pierce was allegedly armed with a syringe in two of the robberies and a knife in the third, police said.

Pierce is scheduled to appear in bond court on Saturday.

On Wednesday, Area Central detectives issued a community alert on five robberies in the Lincoln Park that have taken place since May 15. The alert said police were searching for a man and a woman.

During the robberies, the suspect passed a note to a clerk warning he or she is armed with a syringe, knife or gun. The suspects displayed a syringe or knife in two of the robberies, the alert said, adding that the suspects then took money from the cash register and fled.

Two businesses on West Fullerton Avenue were robbed -- one in the 1300 block at 5:28 p.m. on May 15, and another in the 1200 block at 9:15 a.m. Monday.

Another two businesses on West Webster Avenue were also hit by similar robberies, including on the 1100 block at 4:50 p.m. Thursday and another in the 900 block at 10:09 a.m. Tuesday.

A business in the 2000 block of North Clybourn Avenue was also hit at 11 a.m. Sunday, the alert said.

The alert described the female suspect as 18 to 25 years old with long blonde hair, standing 5-foot-7 weighing 130 pounds.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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