Man gets 15 years for Aurora outlet mall robbery

A Chicago man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday for his role in a June robbery at the Chicago Premium Outlet mall in Aurora, according to a news release from the Kane County state’s attorney’s office.

Kevin C. Jones, 36, of the 2200 block of South Springfield Avenue, pleaded guilty Nov. 1 to two counts of aggravated robbery.

According to authorities, Jones and co-defendant Michael Pitchford, 31, of the 1100 block of North Lawler Avenue in Chicago, entered a store on the 1600 block of Premium Outlet Boulevard around 12:20 p.m. on June 21 and demanded money and watches.

Authorities said Jones showed what appeared to be a chrome handgun and demanded an employee fill a bag with watches. He was given 48 watches valued at more than $77,000. Pitchford went into a backroom and was given $366 when he demanded cash, authorities said.

Both men fled in a car, authorities said, but two witnesses gave police a description of the men and their car. An Illinois State Police officer spotted it on I-88, but when he tried to stop the vehicle near I-290 and Mannheim Road both men fled the car, authorities said. The men were found in Bellwood. All the stolen items were found on the men or in the car, along with the gun, which was fake, according to authorities.

At the time of the robbery Jones was on parole for two armed robbery convictions in Cook County. He has served seven previous terms in prison for felony convictions.

The case against Pitchford, who was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle, is pending. His next court date is March 8.