Gunman Rebuffed By Yarn Store Staff Hit 2nd Evanston Shop: Police

EVANSTON, IL — Two armed robberies were reported at small businesses in downtown Evanston Monday afternoon, and police believe the same man was responsible for both of them. At about 4:34 p.m. police were called to the Close Knit Yarn Store, 1630 Orrington Ave., for a report of an attempted armed robbery that had just taken place. A store employee told police a man entered the store and gestured to what looked like a gun in his waistband, police said.

"Open the cash register or I'll shoot," he threatened, according to Cmdr. Ryan Glew.

"She is not having it," Glew said. "She basically tells him 'no' and tells him to get out."

Police said she yelled at the man to get out, and he did.

The staffer, identified as Close Knit owner Lucy Sinkler by the Daily Northwestern, said the gunman had "annoyed" her.

The man fled the store on foot North on Orrington Ave., according to Glew.

But just nine minutes later and a mile to the South, the gunman tried again, police believe.

At about 4:43 p.m., another armed robbery was reported at the Junior League of Evanston-North Shore's Thrift House, 920 Chicago Ave.

A man matching the description provided by witnesses from the yarn store came into the thrift shop and walked up to a 47-year-old woman working there.

Again, he gestured to an apparent gun in his waistband, police said.

"Give me all your money," the woman was told. She handed over about $330 in cash and the man ran away.

The suspect (pictured above) was described as a skinny, 50- to 60-year-old black man around 5 feet, 8 inches tall.

Glew said it was "highly unlikely" there were two different suspects in the two incidents.

There were no injuries reported in either incident.

Police asked anyone with information to call Evanston police at 847-866-5040 or text a tip to CRIMES (274637) with EPDTIP in the message line followed by the tip information.

_{Top photo: Image captured from surveillance cameras at Thrift House, 920 Chicago Ave., of the suspect in an armed robbery that was reported shortly before 5 p.m. on Jan. 22, 2017 | Evanston PD}