Cops: Lake Villa robbery suspects flip car during police chase

Two men who used a toy gun to hold up a Lake Villa gas station are hospitalized after crashing and flipping their SUV in Lindenhurst while running from police.

Lake Villa Police Chief Ron Roth said one of the two men entered the Circle K Gas Station at Route 83 and Grand Avenue at 7:03 p.m. Saturday, displayed the handgun to the store clerk, and demanded money. Police have not released the identities of the suspects.

After taking an undisclosed amount of cash, the thief ran across Route 83, and jumped into a waiting Jeep Grand Cherokee parked outside a liquor store, Roth said. The Jeep left the lot with its headlights off, and headed north on Route 83 before turning east on Grand Avenue.

Witnesses called police and gave a description of the vehicle to dispatchers, Roth said, who contacted Lindenhurst police. Officers spotted the Jeep heading east on Grand Avenue near Sand Lake Road, and gave chase.

"I really want to commend Lindenhurst officers for getting involved so quickly and detecting the vehicle on Grand Avenue," Roth said. "It was heads up police work on their part."

During the chase, the Jeep crossed the yellow line and slammed into a pickup truck heading west on Grand Avenue, he said. The Jeep spun out of control, hit a curb, flipped over, and came to a rest in the front yard of a home in the 2400 block of Grand Avenue.

Roth said the man who robbed the gas station was ejected from the Jeep in the accident. The driver of the pickup was not injured.

Both suspects were arrested and taken to an area hospital, where they are in serious condition with nonlife threatening injuries, Roth said.

While collecting evidence, police discovered the handgun used in the holdup was a realistic looking toy gun, he said, and the Jeep Cherokee was determined to be a stolen vehicle.

Police won't release the names of the suspects until after they are released from the hospital and formal charges are approved.