After getting 3 recognizance bonds in a month, man’s charged with robbing woman in River North

A man who has been released on recognizance bonds three times in the past month ran out of luck Wednesday when he appeared before Judge John Lyke on a brand new charge of robbery.

Mantas Arlouska | CPD

Prosecutors said 42-year-old Mantas Arlouska robbed a woman as she walked to work in River North on Tuesday morning. At the time, he was on separate recognizance bonds for retail theft, trespassing, and felony burglary, according to court records.

The alleged victim told police she saw Arlouska approaching her as she waited for a pedestrian signal to change on the 100 block of West Illinois around 10:20 a.m. She then “quickened her pace to a jog” as Arlouska began following her while yelling incoherently, prosecutors said.

She ran into the lobby of her work building, and Arlouska followed her onto an elevator. He began shouting at her in an “increasingly aggressive tone,” blocked her access to the elevator door, and raised his hands toward her, prosecutors said. 

The victim began crying and handed him her wallet, but Arlouska allegedly began shouting again when he saw that it did not contain any money.

While police were taking the woman’s report, her bank notified her that one of her credit cards was being used at a gas station nearby. Police eventually found Arlouska in the Loop. They said he threw the victim’s wallet into a trash can as they pulled up to speak with him.

Video from the gas station allegedly shows Arlouska using the woman’s credit card to buy drinks and cigarettes at the gas station.

Prosecutors charged him with felony robbery and identity theft.

After being told about the three I-bonds Arlouska has received over the past four weeks, Judge Lyke said, “that streak of good fortune ends today.”

Lyke ordered Arlouska held without bail for violating the terms of his previous bail bonds. He also set bail on the robbery charge at $50,000. Arlouska will need $5,000 to get out of jail if the violation of bail bond situations are resolved in his favor.

In addition to the three pending cases that prosecutors mentioned in court, Chicago police records show Arlouska was also arrested for retail theft on July 15.

Our exclusive and original reporting is 100% reader-funded. Please make a contribution to our operating fund or purchase a subscription today.