Facebook Armed Robbery Leads To Arrest Of Evanston Teen

SKOKIE, IL — An Evanston teen was charged with armed robbery after posing as the ex-girlfriend of his victim, police said. On Jan. 14, an 18-year-old Skokie resident exchanged a series of Facebook messages with the account of his ex and made arrangements to meet.

In the messages, the Skokie teen was told to bring "weed or money" to an unoccupied home in the 8700 block of Avers Avenue, according to police reports.

But when he arrived around 2:30 p.m., his ex-girlfriend was nowhere to be found.

Instead, he was met by a man he did not recognize who was carrying a metal pipe, he told police. The man reportedly attacked him with the pipe, hitting him on the right thigh.

"Give me your wallet," said his attacker, according to police reports.

The Skokie teen turned over his wallet, which contained $52 and various other items. After the man with the pipe left, he called police.

Using photographs and information from Facebook, police soon identified a suspect.

Anthony Strachan, 19, of the 600 block of Brummel Street in Evanston, was arrested less than five hours later and charged with armed robbery.

Strachan could not be reached ahead of a court appearance scheduled for Jan. 23.

_{Top photo: Anthony Strachan booking photograph | Skokie PD}