3 robberies in Bolingbrook, Romeoville
Bolingbrook police are investigating a pair of armed robberies in the same part of town while Romeoville police probe a similar and possibly related crime, authorities said Monday.
Bolingbrook police Lt. Ken Teppel said detectives are canvassing the area along East Boughton Road to view security videos and locate possible witnesses to the robberies.
The first incident occurred Feb. 22, Teppel said, when a man reported he was robbed at gunpoint outside a restaurant on the 700 block of East Boughton Road.
The man told police he was sitting in his car using his cell phone about 4:30 p.m. when a man entered the vehicle through the unlocked rear driver's side door and displayed a black semiautomatic handgun. Another man entered the car a short time later.
The victim told police he was forced at gunpoint to remove money from the closest ATM. The men then took the victim's cell phone and keys so he couldn't contact police.
The robbers were picked up by another person in a dark-colored subcompact and fled, the victim told police. He said the getaway car had four doors, tinted windows and a loud exhaust.
The first suspect was described as 17 to 25 years old, standing a little more than 6 feet tall with a thin build. The victim told police the man may have been wearing a hooded sweat shirt and baggy jeans.
The second suspect was described as 17 to 25 years old, standing about 5 feet 8 inches tall with a thin build. He was wearing all black, the victim said, with something covering his face.
A week later, on Feb. 29, Bolingbrook officers were called to a store on the 700 block of East Boughton Road, where a woman reported someone had tried to rob her at gunpoint in the parking lot.
She told police she was using her cell phone in her car about 5:55 p.m. when a man entered her rear driver's side door and displayed a handgun.
The woman said she ran from her car, shoutingfor help.
The man was described as 20 to 30 years old, standing just over 6 feet tall with a thin build. He was wearing all dark clothing, had a thin face and no facial hair, the woman told police.
Later that day, Romeoville police received a report from a man who said he was robbed at gunpoint in a parking lot on the 1200 block of Lake View Drive. The man told police two men entered his vehicle, displayed a gun and ordered him to drive to several ATMs to remove money. The men took the victim's cell phone, ordered him to drop them off in the Peppertree subdivision and drove away.
The first suspect was described as in his 20s and wearing dark clothing.
The second man was described as in his 20s and wearing a dark Navy coat and hat.
In all three cases, the robbers have been careful to cover their faces, making identification difficult, Teppel said.
Bolingbrook Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of the offenders. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (630) 378-4772 or Bolingbrook police at (630) 226-8600.