Teens Charged In String Of West Town Robberies

CHICAGO, IL — Two 17-year-old boys have been charged after a string of robberies in West Town, police said. The teenagers stole a black 2015 Volkswagen from the 1100 block of West George on Aug. 2, according to police. They used the vehicle as a getaway car, police said.

The first robbery happened Aug. 8 around 10:30 a.m. in the 900 block of South Western, police said. The boys targeted a business and stole cash from a register, according to police. One of the teens hit a woman who was working for the business in the head with a metal pole, police said. The boys then drove off in the stolen Volkswagen.

Then at 3:05 p.m. on Aug. 9 the teens pushed a woman and stole her purse in the 1400 block of West Hubbard, before driving off, police said.

Officers spotted the car with the teens inside around 4 p.m. Monday in the 300 block of West Polk, police said. The boys tried to take off in the car and crashed it, and tried to run away on foot before they were caught, police said.

One of the teens has been charged with two felony counts of robbery armed with a dangerous weapon and a felony count each of robbery and receiving, possessing or selling a stolen vehicle, police said. The other teen was charged with a misdemeanor count of criminal trespass to a vehicle.

Image via CPD