Chicago couple denies Gurnee Mills robbery attempt

A Chicago couple pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges they tried to steal a woman’s purse in the Gurnee Mills shopping mall parking lot.

Steve Trawick, 20, and Tienna Goins, 22, each face up to seven years in prison if convicted of attempted aggravated robbery.

Trawick could also be sentenced to up to five years behind bars if convicted of aggravated battery.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Rod Drobinski said a 33-year-old Renton, Wash., woman was leaving a store at the mall around 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 12.

Drobinski said Trawick walked up to her and pushed her in the chest several times and demanded she hand over her purse.

The woman screamed and Trawick ran back toward the mall, Drobinski said, but a witness who was watching called Gurnee police.

Police notified Gurnee Mall security, who spotted Trawick in a store on one of their video surveillance cameras.

The security officer radioed Trawick’s location to police who were in the mall, and Trawick was found and taken into custody.

The witness also gave police a description of the car Trawick exited when he approached the woman, Drobinski said, and police located the car and arrested Goins.

Drobinski said both suspects admitted they had come to the mall lot to steal a purse.

Circuit Judge James Booras ordered both defendants, who are held on $50,000 bail, to appear in court Jan. 24.