Will County Police Identify and Charge Homer Glen Gas Station Armed Robbery Suspect

HOMER GLEN, IL- Robert A. Bennet, 37, of Lansing, has been arrested in connection with the armed robbery at the Speedway Gas Station, 15060 S. Bell Road, in Homer Glen.

At 5:20 a.m. March 14, Bennet robbed the Homer Glen gas station at gunpoint and stole a customer's car, the Will County Sheriff's Office said.

According to police, Bennet entered the Speedway station, displayed a shotgun and demanded money. He then struck the employee and took an undetermined amount of cash, as well as a purse from another customer that was in the store at the time, police said.

Bennet fled the scene before losing control of his vehicle and crashing at 151st Street and Bell Road, police said. He then returned to the gas station and stole a vehicle at gunpoint from a customer pumping gas. He fled the scene in the stolen vehicle.

According to Homer School District 33C, as a precaution, both Hadley Middle School and Homer Junior High, which are nearby, issued a Shelter-In-Place. Students and staff could move about the buildings, but could not go outside. Parents were also not allowed to enter the buildings during this time. The Shelter-In-Place ended at 8:35 a.m. when the school received information that the suspect had left the area.

Police said detectives located the suspect at around 1 p.m. at the Hi-Way Motel at 159th and Central Park in Markham. After finding the stolen vehicle in Robbins, police were in contact with other area departments.

Police said that Bennet was taken into custody without incident and victims from the armed robbery were able to positively identify him as the offender.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office approved charges of two counts of aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated vehicular hijacking and attempted aggravated vehicular hijacking.

Bennet is currently at the Will County Adult Detention Facility and will appear for a bond hearing on March 15.

Photo provided by Will County Sheriff's Department