A Bucktown man who is still awaiting trial for allegedly robbing three pawn shops in 2018 was charged Thursday with robbing two more pawnshops around the same time. The new charges were filed against Norbert Caillouet after investigators allegedly matched DNA material from evidence at the robbery scenes to the man.
Prosecutors in January 2019 said Caillouet, 41, was part of a robbery crew that carried out a series of pawnshop heists that all followed a similar script: The offenders herded store employees into back rooms at gunpoint and then smashed display cases with hammers to steal jewelry and other valuables.
Caillouet was charged with robbing pawn shops in Lakeview in June 2018 and robbing a West Ridge pawn shop in August and December 2018.
Ironically, detectives arrested Caillouet as he allegedly tried to sell proceeds from the pawnshop robberies to a pawn shop in West Town.
Now prosecutors have charged him with two more counts of Class X armed robbery involving pawnshop jobs.
On August 1, 2018, Caillouet allegedly entered a pawn shop on the 1400 block of North Milwaukee in Wicker Park, ordered an employee into the back at gunpoint, smashed the display cases, and took over $30,000 worth of gold chains. Investigators recently matched DNA from a sweatshirt that the robber wore to Caillouet, Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Burkhardt said.
Caillouet used the same technique to rob a pawn shop in the 2000 block of West North Avenue in Bucktown on December 1, 2018, according to Burkhardt. In that incident, the burglar cut himself on the display case’s broken glass. DNA testing of the blood allegedly matched Caillouet’s genetic profile.
Caillouet will continue to be held without bail for the older robbery cases. Judge Mary Marubio set bail for the new charges at $250,000.