2 Masked Robbers Plunder Mobile Phone Store, Zip Tie Employees: OLPD

OAK LAWN, IL — Two armed men wearing masks held up a mobile phone store Monday night in Oak Lawn, tying employees’ hands and feet with zip ties and making off with cash and merchandise, police said. Another armed robbery occurred earlier Monday in front of a business in Evergreen Park.

Shortly after 8 p.m., two men entered through the front door of the AT&T store, 5251 W. 95th St. One of the men pulled out a handgun and ordered three employees working at the time to the back of the store.

The men demanded access to the inventory room, where another employee was working. One of the men bound the employees’ hands and feet with zip ties. The two loaded two bags with merchandise and fled the store through the rear door. It is believed the robbers left with 90 electronic devices and $7,000 cash, police said.

>>> 2 Robbed At Gunpoint On 95th Street In Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn

Employees were able to free themselves of their bindings and call 911. No customers were in the store at the time and no one was injured. Oak Lawn police pursued the suspects' vehicle into Chicago.

Div. Chief Gerald Vetter, of the Oak Lawn Police Department, did not have information at this time about a possible barricade situation where the suspects were said to have run into a residence near 119th Street and Eggleston Avenue.

The suspects are described as two black males. The first is approximately 6 feet tall with a slim build. He was wearing a black ski mask, black clothes, tan shoes and black and green gloves.

The second suspect is between 5-foot-6 inches and 6 feet tall, with a slim build. He was wearing a black ski mask and all black clothing, with black shoes and black and green gloves. The pair are believed to have fled in a dark-colored SUV, possibly at Dodge Durango.

Prior to the Oak Lawn robbery, a person was robbed of cash and their cell phone in Evergreen Park leaving PLS Check Cashers, 2507 W. 95th St. The suspect fled west on 95th Street in a Dodge Durango. Evergreen Park police learned that the suspect may have been involved in a similar incident at Palermo's Restaurant in Oak Lawn.

"At this time, there is no indication that these incidents are related to the AT&T robbery," Vetter said.

After the offenders fled, the employees were able to free themselves from the zip ties and called 911. No customers were in the store at the time of the robbery, and there are no known injuries.

The investigation remains active, and police ask if you have any information to contact the Oak Lawn Police Detective Division at (708) 907-4051 or text tips to (708) 613-8477.