Armed Carjacking Over PlayStation 4 Leads To Arrest

JOLIET, IL — Playing video games is supposed to be fun, relaxing and entertaining, but one video gamer's trip to Joliet's southeast side to sell off his PlayStation 4 left him and his passenger as the victims of a dangerous carjacking on Wednesday. Fortunately, Joliet's Police Department quickly got word of the crime and were able to make a swift arrest. A 16-year-old Joliet juvenile was arrested around 11 p.m. in Romeoville.

The boy was charged with armed robbery and aggravated vehicular hijacking, according to Joliet Police reports.

On Wednesday night, Joliet Police were notified of a robbery in the 400 block of Richards Street, on the city's southeast side. "Upon arrival, officers met with the victims who advised that they came to Joliet to sell a PlayStation 4 via (the) 'Let go' app," police said.

The victims told police they were told to meet up with their buyer somewhere around the 400 block of 4th Avenue. When the buyer showed up, he didn't show up with money, he came with a gun, reports show.

"The juvenile produced a handgun, opened the passenger door and placed the handgun into the stomach of one of the victims. The juvenile then ordered both victims out of the vehicle and told them to leave the PlayStation 4 along with their cellular phones. The juvenile then entered the driver's side of the vehicle and sped off in the victim’s car," police reports show.

According to Joliet Police, neither of the victims was hurt.

The patrol officers notified the detective unit of the carjacking and "after an investigation, (they) identified and located the juvenile responsible," reports show.

The 16-year-old suspected carjacker was taken to the River Valley Juvenile Detention Center on McDonough Street at 11:05 p.m.

Google Maps image of 400 block of Joliet's Richards Street