Robbery detectives with the Portland Police Bureau are looking into three armed robberies of pedestrians that took place in less that two hours late Sunday and early Monday.



In all three cases, the victims were approached by three young men, one of whom appeared to be carrying a handgun. Police are trying to establish whether the three robberies are connected.



The first report came in at 10:24 p.m. The male victim said he was riding a skateboard to work at the QFC grocery store on Northeast 33rd Avenue when he was approached by three men, one holding a handgun, at Northeast 36th Avenue and Grant Place, near Grant High School. The victim said he started to run away, but one of the suspects took his backpack and all three fled.



The second incident was reported at 11:30 p.m. A a woman pedestrian said she was near the intersection of Southeast 20th Avenue and Oak Street, near Central Catholic High School, when approached by one man, who demanded her property. Two other men then appeared and the woman said they surrounded her and one pulled out what appeared to be a handgun. The victim gave them her phone and purse and they fled.



The third incident was reported at 12:17 a.m. at Northeast 33rd Avenue and Holman Street, just east of Concordia University. Two people – a male and female – were approached by three men in their late teens or early 20s. Again, one had a handgun. The three took the male's iPhone and the female's pursue and fled.



Officers found some of the first victim's property near Northeast 37th Avenue and Knott Street, but are still looking into the cases for possible connections. They asked that anyone with information contact Detective Dan McGetrick at 503-823-0464 or Dan.McGetrick@PortlandOregon.gov.



Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in this case, or any unsolved felony, and you can remain anonymous.



– The Oregonian





