Teen, Youth Charged With Armed Robberies In Naperville, Woodridge

NAPERVILLE, IL --- A 19-year-old man and a juvenile have been charged in a pair of armed gas station robberies that took place in Naperville and Woodridge in late November. Police took Vyshonne Dawkins, 19, of Chicago, and the juvenile into custody Friday and charged them with two felony counts of armed robbery.

The pair may also be linked to similar robberies in Darien, Lisle, Lockport, Joliet, Romeoville, New Lenox, Tinley Park, Indian Head Park, and Mokena, according to a press release.

Police say Dawkins and the juvenile were armed with a semi-automatic handgun and wearing masks when they entered a Circle K gas station in Woodridge on Nov. 18 and demanded cash and cigarettes before fleeing in a car driven by a third suspect. The pair allegedly robbed a Naperville gas station at gunpoint the following day.

The juvenile and Dawkins were arrested after a joint investigation by Naperville and Woodridge police, along with the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. The identity of the third suspect is still unknown, according to police.

In a statement DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin praised Naperville and Woodridge Police Departments for their teamwork and said,

"It is alleged that Mr. Dawkins and his accomplice threatened a man, who was trying to make an honest living, with his life, for money and cigarettes," Berlin said. Thanks to the truly outstanding work of the Naperville and Woodridge Police Departments, with assistance of numerous other law enforcement agencies, Mr. Dawkins was apprehended and will now face the charges against him which, if convicted, could land him behind bars for thirty years."

Dawkins is currently being held at DuPage County Jail on $2 million bond and is set to appear in court again on Jan. 22. The juvenile recently had a detention hearing, police say, but they did not provide additional information.

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