Downtown Evanston Armed Robber Identified As Jailed Veteran: Cops

EVANSTON, IL — A robber who was chased out of an Evanston yarn store before robbing a thrift shop at gunpoint in January has been identified as a Chicago felon currently being held without bail in connection with a string of stick-ups at businesses, including several in the Loop, police said. In each case, the gunman targeted small boutique stores that lacked security and were staffed by women.

Preston G. Gresham, 57, of the 7700 block of South Emerald Avenue in Chicago, faces charges in connection with at least five armed robberies in Evanston, Chicago and Berwyn, according to police and court records.

Evanston police said he admitted being the man seen on security camera footage from one of two daylight armed robberies of small businesses that took place Jan. 22 in downtown Evanston. They said he was linked by eyewitness, video and physical evidence before he was charged with armed robbery and attempted robbery Thursday.

In the first incident, Gresham allegedly walked into a knitting supply store in the 1600 block of Orrington Avenue and demanded money from the 52-year-old woman who was working the register at the time. She refused and yelled at the man to get out before he fled on foot.

The second robbery was reported about 10 minutes later, when Gresham robbed a thrift store in the 900 block of Chicago Avenue, according to police. In each case, he brandished a silver handgun tucked into his waistband before demanding cash.

Police initially believed there were two suspects on the loose. In the immediate aftermath of the robberies, cops detained a Chicago naprapath who said he had been injured in the encounter.

A short time later, investigators tied both incidents together, and they now believe Gresham was the culprit in both of them.

» More: Gunman Rebuffed by Yarn Store Staff Before Robbing Evanston Thrift Shop: Police

Gresham was arrested March 20 in the 0-100 block of West Van Buren Street the Loop after he was identified as the man who had just robbed a businesses at gunpoint in the 400 block of South Financial Place, according to Chicago police.

Detectives then identified him as the same man they were seeking in connection with two other downtown armed robberies on March 5 and 7. Both took place between 11 p.m. and midnight in the 300 block of North Michigan.

In both incidents, he displayed a silver revolver in his waistband and demanded female employees at small boutiques to open the register, according to police. A surveillance image released by police shows the robber wearing a white construction mask.

The owner of one of the spots he robbed, a small jewelry store, told the Chicago Tribune the man was brazen as he walked in, opened his jacket and brandished the gun in a holdup that was over in only about 45 seconds.

Police also suspect Gresham of carrying out two other armed robberies in Chicago for which he was not immediately charged, WMAQ-TV reported last month. They included a Jan. 29 incident in the 1000 block of North Clark Street and a March 14 robbery in the 1500 block of North Halsted Street.

At a bond hearing, prosecutors described Gresham as an honorably discharged veteran with past convictions for armed robberies at downtown Chicago businesses.

Gresham was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 1998 for eight counts of armed robbery and one count of attempted armed robbery. He completed his parole just over 10 years ago, according to Illinois Department of Corrections records.