Gurnee police seek ‘ripoff’ robber

Authorities are investigating the Gurnee Mills parking lot robbery of a man who was trying to complete a purchase of wireless telephones that was initiated online.

Gurnee police Cmdr. Jay Patrick said the victim, a 36-year-old Elgin man, told a different story about what happened in the first interview with detectives. Further investigation revealed the man went to the lot to buy the phones.

Police have labeled what happened a “ripoff” robbery.

Authorities said they were summoned to the mall at 5:19 p.m. Tuesday. Under the original version of the victim’s story, police said, he claimed a black man approached him for money as he walked to his vehicle parked near Sears Grand and then returned to the store to avoid a possible confrontation.

After additional questioning, the Elgin man admitted he had made an online arrangement to meet someone he didn’t know to complete his intended purchase of the cellular phones in a Gurnee Mills parking lot.

Police said the victim started having second thoughts about the transaction when the men were together. Both men went into the Sears Grand, then returned to the victim’s car where he was robbed after the suspect lifted his coat to display the grip of a handgun.

An undisclosed amount of cash and home electronics purchased by the victim at the mall were taken in the robbery. Police said the offender ran east from the parking lot.

Based on a description the victim provided to police, the suspect is a black man in his mid-20s, roughly 5 feet, 7 inches tall and 150 to 160 pounds. The offender had curly brown hair in a ponytail and was last seen wearing a long brown coat with a blue-and-white plaid shirt.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gurnee police at (847) 599-7000.