Man charged with twice robbing Crystal Lake 7-Eleven

A 41-year-old man was charged Tuesday night with twice robbing a 7-Eleven that's within walking distance of his Crystal Lake apartment, police said.

Jeffrey D. Gibson, of the 500 block of Somerset Lane, is accused of reaching into the cash register at the store, 19 Berkshire Drive, and stealing money Tuesday morning and on Sept. 28, Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Derek Hyrkas said.

"There was no implied weapon," Hyrkas said. "(Gibson) would get the cashier to open the drawer, and he would grab the money and take off running."

In the Sept. 28 incident, Gibson had a brief scuffle with the clerk; no injuries were reported from either day, Hyrkas said.

Detectives developed "some independent information" and used that to obtain a search warrant for Gibson's apartment Tuesday night, Hyrkas said.

Gibson was present and did not resist; Hyrkas declined to comment on what was recovered from the apartment or what, if any, statements he made to police after his arrest.

Hyrkas could not immediately specify how much money was stolen in either robbery, but added it was not a "large sum."

Gibson was being held at the McHenry County jail on $180,000 bail, meaning he must post $18,000 to be released while the charges are pending.

If convicted of both crimes, he faces anywhere from probation to 12 years in prison. Gibson's next court date is Friday.