Des Plaines police search for armed robber

Des Plaines police are searching for an armed robber who held up a motorist at gunpoint early Wednesday morning at the intersection of Des Plaines River and Rand roads.

At about 2:35 a.m., the male suspect approached a vehicle stopped at the traffic signal and asked the male driver for directions, Des Plaines Police Deputy Chief Mike Kozak said.

The offender then displayed a handgun, got into the front passenger seat of the vehicle and demanded money and the car, Kozak said.

The 42-year-old victim from Des Plaines gave whatever money he had to the offender. When the suspect told the victim to get out of the car, the victim threatened to crash the vehicle, Kozak said.

The suspect then jumped out of the vehicle and escaped on foot, police said.

“He got away with the victim’s cellphone and the money, approximately $20 cash,” Kozak said.

Police have not released a detailed description of the suspect.