Two strong arm robberies not related, Arlington Heights police say

Two strong arm robberies were committed Oct. 11 in Arlington Heights that police believe were staged by two different attackers.

At 11:04 a.m. a 54-year-old Mount Prospect woman and a 64-year-old Arlington Heights woman were standing between their parked vehicles outside Northpoint Mall on Rand Road when a man approached, asking for money.

When the women refused, he grabbed the Mount Prospect woman's arm and demanded money; she gave him an undisclosed amount of cash and he ran away, southbound through the parking lot. Police said she was not injured.

Meanwhile, at about 4:40 p.m. the same day, a 76-year-old Arlington Heights man was walking to his car outside the Trackside Restaurant on West Euclid Avenue when he was accosted from behind by a man who reached into his pants pocket and took his wallet and some loose cash.

The attacker pushed the man to the ground and ran away east through the parking lot and disappeared. The victim suffered minor abrasions that did not require medical attention, police said.

Both attackers were described as white, about 5-8 with medium builds and roughly the same age - the women said their offender was 35-40; the other one was described as 30-40 - but detectives believe they are two different attackers, said crime prevention officer Doug Hajek.

Police say the man in the mall parking lot had an extremely dark tan, was clean shaven and had reddish blonde hair; the man in the restaurant lot had no physical description other than his age and build.

Hajek added there have been no similar attacks reported since Oct. 11.