Wheelchair ruse used to rob Waukegan loan store

Waukegan police are searching for a man who used a wheelchair to rob a Waukegan currency loan store.

Police said the 6-foot-tall black man with a heavy build rolled up to the door of the Plus Loan Store in the 1400 block of N. Lewis Avenue in a wheelchair and banged on the door about 8:45 p.m. Monday.

A store employee left her post behind bullet proof glass to let the man in, Waukegan Police Cmdr. Gabe Guzman said.

Once inside, the man jumped out of the wheelchair and displayed a gun to the woman as she was returning to the back office behind the glass, Guzman said.

“The door to the back office was open when he jumped up, and he followed her in the back,” Guzman said.

The robber took cash from the safe and drawers before fleeing and leaving the wheelchair behind, he said.

The robber was described as wearing blue jeans, a black jacket, a tan hat and a scarf that masked his face, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Waukegan Police at (847) 360-9000.