WEST TOWN — Three people were held up at gunpoint in the past week and robbed of their cars in West Town and the Near West Side, according to a Near West (12th) District police.

In these incidents, the victims were approached by three or four men, on a combination of foot or bicycles, police said.

After showing a handgun, the men demanded personal belongings, got into the victim's cars and drove away, police said in an alert issued Tuesday.

The carjackings happened at these locations, days and times:

• 1200 Block of West Monroe Street in the Near West Side last Wednesday, July 26, at 10:55 p.m.

• 1100 Block of North Wolcott Avenue in West Town's East Village last Thursday, July 27 at 1:05 p.m.

• 2100 Block of West Cortez Street in Ukrainian Village last Thursday at 3:25 p.m.

The thieves were described as three to four black men between the ages of 18 and 24 and of varying heights, between 5-foot-6 and 6-foot-2 inches tall. One man wore a black sweater, another had a black mask covering the bottom half of his face and a third wore a red T-shirt.

Anyone with information should call the Area Central Bureau of Detectives at 312-747-8382. Reference these reports: JA-365009, JA-365064, JA-365795.

What you can do:

• Always be aware of your surroundings

• Report suspicious activity immediately

• If you are confronted by an assailant remain calm

• Remember any unique physical characteristics (scars, limp, acne, teeth,

etc...)

• Never pursue a fleeing assailant, provide the information to the police

• If video surveillance equipment is present, please save a copy of the incident

for investigating detectives

• If approached by a witness to the incident, request contact information

• Dial 9-1-1 immediately and remain on scene when possible