They got him.
Five days into his one-man crime wave, the robbery and suspected burglary offender who’s been raising havoc in Old Town met his match. And, it turns out, he’s a juvenile.
Undercover cops arrested the teen around 5 p.m. Saturday near Willow and Orchard streets — the same intersection where he’s been causing problems all week. Prosecutors have charged the juvenile with two felony counts of robbery, Chicago police said on Twitter Sunday.
Officers responded to the area around 3 o’clock Saturday after someone reported that the wanted offender was standing outside Newberry Math & Science Academy. An 18th District police tactical unit staked out the area and subsequently arrested the teen.
Investigators suspect he is responsible for:
- Stealing money from Willow Cleaners, 703 West Willow, on Monday
- Robbing the same business at knifepoint Tuesday afternoon
- Burglarizing a woman’s home in the 800 block of West Armitage
- Robbing a woman at knifepoint near Willow and Orchard on Thursday evening
- Trying to rob a woman at Willow and Orchard on Friday afternoon
Witnesses called police before the Thursday and Friday incidents after seeing the offender in the area, but he committed crimes and fled before police arrived both times.
No one was injured during the incidents, although the robber did push a 77-year-old dry cleaner employee during Tuesday’s hold-up.