One day after Chicago police warned the public about a man who robbed a downtown convenience store nine times in a month, cops made an arrest and charges have been filed in two cases.
The robber, who sometimes pushed employees and once claimed to have a gun, repeatedly took liquor and cigarettes from behind the counter at 7-Eleven, 48 North Wells, between December 17 and January 18, according to CPD records.
Video of an incident on January 14 shows a tall man pushing the much smaller store clerk into a display case before making his way behind to counter to steal merchandise. A source said the offender struck the cashier with a coffee pot.
The robber, who shoved employees and once claimed to have a gun, took liquor and cigarettes from behind the counter at the 7-Eleven nine times between December 17 and January 18, police said.
Monday, prosecutors charged a man in connection with one of the robberies and another theft from the store Sunday.
Police arrested Ivan Weldon in the Loop around noon Sunday after he stole more inventory from the store, prosecutors said.
The store manager recognized him as the person who has gone behind their counter repeatedly to steal alcohol and cigarettes, Assistant State’s Attorney Franka D’Antignac said.
Weldon is charged with robbery for an incident on December 18 in which he allegedly claimed to have a gun as he ordered a store clerk to leave him alone while he took cigarettes, cigars, and beer.
After his arrest, Weldon told police he’s “been doing this for five years” and claimed to own the property, D’Antignac said.
Weldon is on parole for aggravated battery of a CTA employee in the Loop. Illinois Department of Corrections lists him as an “absconder,” meaning he has not complied with the terms of his early release.
His public defender said there might be a mental health component to Weldon’s alleged behavior.
After hearing the allegations, Judge Mary Marubio set Weldon’s bail at $150,000 and ordered him to go onto electronic monitoring if he is released. Marubio said she intentionally set the bail at an amount that he probably cannot in order to keep him in custody.
