Man Impersonating Cop Robs Third Person On South Side

CHICAGO (STMW) -- A man calling himself "Officer Franklin" and posing as a federal agent to rob people on the South Side struck again Saturday night, marking the third robbery in the past two weeks.

The suspect was driving a SUV when he identified himself as a federal agent who was conducting a homicide investigation and ordered a 41-year-old man into his vehicle about 11 a.m. in the 7000 block of South Justine Street, police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli said.

After the impersonator raised his voice and again ordered the man to get inside the vehicle, the victim complied, Mirabelli said.

The suspect then drove to the 8000 block of South Oakley Avenue and told the man to empty his pockets, Mirabelli said.

The impersonator then stole the man's cash, told him to get out of the SUV and drove away, Mirabelli said.

In previous robberies, the suspect displayed a silver semi-automatic handgun, police said.

The robberies happened about 3 p.m. Sept. 15 in the 7700 block of South Colfax Avenue and about 2:10 p.m. Tuesday in the 8100 block of South Paxton Avenue, police said.

The man is described as a 40- to 50-year-old bald black man with a medium to dark complexion, police said. He is about 6-feet, 250 pounds with sideburns.

He does not show police credentials or wear a uniform, police said.

He drives a light-colored 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 send tips to area2tip@chicagopolice.org.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)