West Chicago man charged in camera lens robberies

A West Chicago man has been charged in connection with two recent robbery attempts involving camera lenses in Glen Ellyn.

Dwayne K. Smith, 22, of the 29W200 block of Lee Road, faces charges of attempted aggravated robbery and aggravated robbery, Glen Ellyn police said Thursday.

Smith responded to two separate Craigslist ads last week from residents trying to sell camera lenses, police said.

In the first case, Smith met a man on Feb. 5 in front of a store on the 500 block of Roosevelt Road. During that meeting Smith displayed a handgun and tried to take the lens. The victim resisted and Smith ran away, authorities said.

The next day, Smith met with another man inside a restaurant on the 300 block of Roosevelt Road. This time Smith grabbed the lens from the man and fled. When the victim attempted to give chase, Smith said he had a gun and pointed something at the man, police said.

Police from Glen Ellyn, Bensenville, Bloomingdale, Glendale Heights, West Chicago and the DuPage sheriff's office executed a search warrant early Tuesday morning at Smith's home. He was charged in connection with both incidents and transported to DuPage County jail.