Arlington Hts. gas station hit by armed robber again

Arlington Heights police are investigating an armed robbery Friday night at a gas station on Rand Road, the second time the business has been held up at gunpoint in recent months.

Police responded to Mobil, 815 W. Rand Road, about 8:40 p.m. Friday for a report of an armed robbery. The station's only employee on duty told police a man came into the station, pointed a gun and demanded money, Sgt. Joe Pinnello said. An unknown amount of cash was taken, and no one was injured.

The gas station and the same employee were robbed Oct. 22, Pinnello said, but police don't think the two crimes are connected.

"The description of the offender is slightly different," he said. "It could be the same person, possibly, but from what was described to us by the witness, it doesn't seem that way."

Police said the robber Friday night had dark complexion, stood about 5 feet 5 inches tall and was wearing a short black winter hat, sunglasses, gloves and a blue or black shirt. The robber in October was described as a black man about 35 years old, wearing a multicolored cloth on his face, a black backpack and black clothing, according to a police report.

No one has been arrested in either robbery.

The gas station does have a video surveillance system, but quality of the video may make it hard to identify a suspect or suspects, police said.

"Certain businesses such as gas stations and convenience stores are more frequent targets," Pinnello said. "We don't have a rash of armed robberies occurring in Arlington Heights, but to have two in such close time proximity of each other at the same location is unique."

Anyone with information about either robbery is asked to call Arlington Heights police at (847) 368-5300.