Police say Wheeling Arby's robbery was an inside job

An employee was one of four arrested for an armed robbery at a Wheeling Arby's earlier this week, authorities said.

Police said two men -- one wearing a bandana over his face and the other a ski mask -- came into the Arby's at 34 N. Elmhurst Road around 3:50 p.m. Tuesday.

Both were armed with handguns and demanded cash, police said.

An cashier who was working at the time, Anthony Stevenson, set up the robbery, according to the Cook County state's attorney's office.

The two men took about $1,200 in cash and fled on foot.

"It was very quick; they were gone in a matter of a couple minutes," Wheeling Deputy Police Chief William Benson said.

Besides three employees, two customers were in the restaurant at the time.

Police dogs tracked the two robbers to the street, where they were picked up by an accomplice in a car.

Stevenson, 17, of 830 Corey Lane, Wheeling; Jesus Arcos, 18, of 877 Cambridge, Wheeling; James Cantrell, 19, 582 Williamsburg Court, Wheeling; and a 16-year-old were all arrested and charged with aggravated robbery.

Police said Arcos and the 16-year-old held up the restaurant with the guns, which were later found to be pellet guns. Cantrell drove the get-away car, police said.

Benson said there were inconsistencies when officers interviewed those present during the robbery, which led them to suspect Stevenson.

The state's attorney's office said Stevenson admitted to the robbery during questioning and told police about the other three involved.

Police later found two pellet guns, bandanas and the cash in one of the suspects' homes.

They appeared for a hearing Friday in Rolling Meadows, where the bond for the three adults was set at $75,000. The 16-year-old was referred to juvenile court.

Stevenson, Arcos and Cantrell will be back in court March 19.