Chicago man charged with armed robberies in Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg
A Chicago man was ordered held without bail Tuesday on charges he robbed four gas stations in Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg at gunpoint over the last few weeks.
Charged as an armed habitual criminal based on his background, Carl Jones, of the 7500 block of Carpenter Street, faces mandatory life in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors say Jones, 51, entered a gas station on the 2500 block of Golf Road in Hoffman Estates about 8:45 p.m. March 24 and handed the clerk $2 for a bag of chips. When the clerk opened the register, Jones pulled a gun from his waistband and demanded the cash drawer, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Maureen McGee. She said Jones left with between $300 and $400 in cash,
Thirteen minutes later, Jones entered a gas station in the 2300 block of West Schaumburg Road in Schaumburg, McGee said. She said he again took a bag of chips to the counter, pulled a gun and ordered the clerk to hand over the cash register tray containing about $400. The incident was captured on video surveillance, McGee said.
Both clerks later identified Jones, McGee said.
A similar robbery occurred about 9:30 p.m. March 29 at a gas station on the 2500 block of West Golf Road in Hoffman Estates. Jones made off with about $150, McGee said.
About midnight on Monday, Jones entered a gas station on the 2300 block of West Schaumburg Road in Schaumburg wearing dark clothes and a Miami Heat hat, McGee said. After paying for a granola bar, he pointed a gun at the clerk, demanded he open the register and threatened to shoot, McGee said. She said the clerk handed over the cash drawer, containing about $250, after which Jones ordered him to lie on the floor. Video surveillance captured the incident. It also captured a gray, four-door sedan leaving from an adjacent parking lot, McGee said.
After a description of the car went out to neighboring jurisdictions, a Hanover Park police officer observed the vehicle - occupied by Jones and another person - pull into another gas station, McGee said. Police recovered a Miami Heat hat and a black metal pellet gun from the car and money and a granola bar from Jones, McGee said.
Jones' criminal background includes convictions for armed robbery and possession of a stolen motor vehicle in 1997, for which he was sentenced to 17 years in prison. He was arrested on charges of being an armed habitual criminal in 2008. Jones was convicted, McGee see, but the case was reversed and remanded. He was sentenced in 2012 to seven years in prison and was on parole at the time of his arrest, McGee said.
Jones next appears in court on May 13.