One of the robberies was reported in the Six Corners Shopping District. View Full Caption Creative Commons/Isadora Ruyter-Harcourt

CHICAGO — Police believe at least two young men were behind two strong-arm business robberies reported in the Portage Park and Jefferson Park neighborhoods since April 19, according to a Wednesday alert.

In both incidents, the group "entered the businesses, requested to use the restroom and then threaten[ed] and struck the victims" before demanding their cash and belongings, police said.

The first robbery was reported at 12:05 p.m. on April 19 in the 4900 block of West Irving Park Road, in the Six Corners Shopping District. Police believe it was committed by a single person, described as a 17- or 18-year-old black man who was 5-feet-6, they said.

The second robbery was perpetrated by two men around 3 p.m. last Friday in the 5600 block of North Milwaukee Avenue, police said.

One robber matched the description of the suspect in the April 19 incident, police said. His accomplice was described as a 20-year-old black man who was 5-foot-10 and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.

Anyone with information on the suspects or the robberies is asked to call detectives at 312-744-8263.