No injuries were reported after armed groups took cash registers and phones from restaurants in three neighborhoods.
CHICAGO, IL — Chicago police are investigating three armed robberies reported early Tuesday at fast food restaurants in Lincoln Park, Albany Park and Pilsen, where groups of armed men took cash registers and other property before leaving.
The robberies happened within about an hour, beginning shortly before 3:30 a.m. and ending around 4:20 a.m. Police have not said the cases are connected. No injuries were reported in any of the robberies, and detectives were reviewing the incidents as separate investigations while checking for possible links.
The first reported incident happened at a Subway in Albany Park between 3:25 a.m. and 3:29 a.m., police said. An armed group entered the restaurant in the 4400 block of North Pulaski Road and demanded money. One of the men took a cash register before the group ran away, according to police. The restaurant was one of three fast food locations hit during the early morning hours as workers were inside and the businesses were operating or preparing for overnight service.
Minutes later, around 3:30 a.m., four armed men drove up to the Wendy’s drive-thru window in the 2300 block of North Ashland Avenue in Lincoln Park, police said. The men climbed through the drive-thru window and entered the restaurant. Police said they took two cash registers and cell phones from two employees before leaving in a black sedan. An employee told CBS News Chicago that one of the suspects pointed a gun at her face during the robbery.
Wendy’s was closed later Tuesday morning after the robbery. A company spokesperson said the incident was a frightening experience for team members and that the company was grateful no one was hurt. The spokesperson said Wendy’s was cooperating with local law enforcement and was focused on counseling and support services for workers. Area Three detectives are investigating the Lincoln Park case, police said.
The third robbery was reported around 4:20 a.m. at a McDonald’s in Pilsen. Police said three men entered through the drive-thru window of the restaurant in the 1600 block of South Blue Island Avenue. The group was armed with guns and took a cash register before returning to a black sedan and driving away, police said. No injuries were reported there, and Area Three detectives also are investigating that case.
The robberies shared some details, including early morning timing, armed groups, cash registers taken and the use of drive-thru windows in two cases. Police had not released a full suspect description or announced any arrests as of the latest update. Officials also had not confirmed whether the same black sedan was involved in more than one robbery or whether the same people took part in multiple incidents.
The restaurants were in three different parts of the city. The Wendy’s is in Lincoln Park on the North Side, the Subway is in Albany Park on the Northwest Side, and the McDonald’s is in Pilsen on the Lower West Side. The locations show a wide spread across Chicago, with the robberies unfolding before dawn while few people were on nearby streets and employees were working inside the restaurants.
The investigation remains open. Police said no one was hurt, and detectives had not reported charges by Tuesday afternoon. The next step is for investigators to review evidence from the restaurants, including any surveillance video, witness statements and vehicle information tied to the robberies.
Author note: Last updated June 9, 2026.