Fox Lake man injured in chase charged in Lake Villa robbery
One of two suspects hospitalized following a Lake Villa robbery also is charged in connection with a series of January purse snatchings in Lake County.
Robert Hubbard, 42, of Fox Lake, is in Lake County jail on $250,000 bond on charges of aggravated robbery and unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle in connection with the Jan. 23 robbery of the Circle K gas station in Lake Villa, officials said.
Hubbard is also held on a second $250,000 bond for the purse snatchings in Lincolnshire and Wauconda. A third robbery in Deer Park is still being investigated.
Lake Villa Police Chief Ron Roth said Hubbard was arrested and charged immediately after being released from the hospital, where he was recouping from injuries he suffered while fleeing the Lake Villa armed robbery.
A second, as-yet unidentified man, also will be charged when released from the hospital, Roth said.
Hubbard was driving the stolen Jeep that fled the Circle K gas station at Route 83 and Grand Avenue. Hubbard's unidentified accomplice walked into the station, pointed a toy gun at the clerk and demanded money. The clerk handed over an undisclosed amount of currency, and the man fled in the stolen car driven by Hubbard, police said.
After the clerk called police, Lindenhurst police spotted and chased the Jeep on Grand Avenue into Lindenhurst. The Jeep clipped an SUV and rolled over. The two were arrested and transferred to an area hospital.
Hubbard was also charged with two January purse snatchings, said Lincolnshire Police Investigator John-Erik Anderson.
Hubbard was charged with aggravated robbery and robbery enhanced in a Jan. 7 purse snatching at Lincolnshire Commons Shopping Center on Milwaukee Avenue, Anderson said. The enhanced robbery charge was because the Lincolnshire victim is over the age of 60, he added.
If found guilty of those crimes, Hubbard could spend an additional 15 years behind bars.
Anderson said Hubbard or his accomplice pointed the same toy gun used in the Lake Villa robbery at a woman in her 60s and demanded her purse. He pushed the woman to the ground and took off in a waiting vehicle, where another person was sitting, Anderson said.
In Wauconda on Jan. 10, no gun was displayed but Hubbard grabbed a 34-year-old woman's purse and knocked over her full cart of groceries before fleeing Liberty Square Mall on Liberty Street, Anderson said.
He was charged with Class 3 theft by Wauconda Police for that robbery, Anderson said.
Police are trying to determine if Hubbard and the accomplice were involved in the Jan. 8 purse snatching at Deer Park Mall, Anderson said.
Roth and Anderson said all the robberies are under investigation and additional charges from other police departments are pending.
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<li><a href="/story/?id=353977">Cops: Lake Villa robbery suspects flip car during police chase <span class="date">[01/26/10]</span></a></li>
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