Police in Chicago, Illinois, are urging residents to be cautious after a slew of violent robberies targeting mainly drunk individuals in the city’s River North neighborhood.

According to FOX 32, at least four incidents have taken place between June 16 and July 6, with one to three African American males beating and robbing people. 

The men befriended people who appeared to be intoxicated before stealing their property and beating them, police said. The robberies occurred during the early morning hours when bars and restaurants were closing.

One of the individuals robbed, Tori Ledzema, told FOX 32 she was forcibly pushed to the ground by four individuals in ski masks while she was headed to Pilates at 5:30 a.m. She said the men attempted to gain access to her phone.

Former FBI special agent Jonathan Gilliam told Fox News Digital in an interview that the suspects wanted one thing: access to the victim’s phone.

Criminals are targeting people in Chicago for access to their phones, one expert said. (iStock)

“But this is what it really all comes down to, is the phones. We do most of our banking on the phones, people don’t carry as much cash anymore,” Gilliam said. “So what they’re doing, and in particular, this is where it has evolved, in particular the female that was going to Pilates. They were asking for her Cash App. They wanted to get in her Cash App and get money that way. So this is something that people have to understand is that they may not be going after cash. They may be going after your apps and how to get into your apps.”

“If they can hold the phone up to your face, if they can beat you until you give them passcodes, they will go in and transfer money,” he said.