Schaumburg on edge after robbery spree

An armed man believed to be responsible for six convenience store robberies in Schaumburg alone has clerks on edge.

In most cases, the robber displays a pistol and takes off with about $100 and a few cartons of cigarettes.

The latest incident came around 6:15 a.m. Friday, when the suspect robbed a BP station he'd already held up earlier in the week.

Schaumburg police won't discuss their investigation, but say they're confident an arrest will be made sooner rather than later.

"We're not sitting back waiting for him to strike again," said Schaumburg police Sgt. John Nebl.

Pantry Plus, located on the 2300 block of West Bode Road, was hit just before 9 a.m. Aug. 9. According to a clerk, employees are supposed to cooperate with the robber's demands and hand over the money.

"The money's covered by insurance and you don't want anybody to get hurt," said the woman. "It's scary but we can't let it interrupt business."

The 7-Eleven located just a few blocks to the west has been robbed twice in recent weeks. After the second incident, which occurred at 2:45 a.m. July 10, owners installed a lock so that customers have to be buzzed in during late-night hours.

Nebl said he can't confirm whether their offender is responsible because the 7-Eleven is in Streamwood, but descriptions put out by both departments are similar.

The suspect in that robbery also displayed a gun, taking cigarettes and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Neeta Patel, who's worked at the store for about a year, isn't surprised at the recent rash of robberies.

"I really think it's because of the economy," said Patel, who wasn't working the night of the robbery. "But I have to work and so I won't leave here."

Schaumburg police describe the offender as a 19- or 20-year-old male, about 5 feet, 11 inches tall and with a medium build.