Car Wash Robbery Pinned On Insider: Cops

TINLEY PARK, IL — A 23-year-old maintenance worker was tied to the inside robbery of a Tinley Park car wash, prosecutors said. Oscar Horta, of Midlothian, appeared before Cook County Judge John Mahoney on a felony charge of armed robbery.

Around 10 p.m. Sept. 1, the prosecutor said Horta went to Delta Sonic Car Wash, 6800 W. 159th St., Tinley Park, and confronted an employee who was cleaning an area outside the car wash. Horta allegedly confronted the employee and marched him inside at gunpoint. After they went inside the car wash, the prosecutor said Horta confronted the manager. Horta held both employees at gunpoint, forcing the manager to open the safe, according to the charges.

The car wash employees told police the suspect wore a Motocross bike helmet and other cycling gear. Tinley Park investigators went across the street to a cyclery, where employees identified the Motocross gear worn by the suspect as apparel sold at their store. The cyclery employees were shown screenshots of the robber, and identified Horta as a customer of their store, the prosecutor said.

Horta, who police say they tracked through his purchases at the cyclery, was identified as a maintenance worker at the car wash, the prosecutor said. Horta was arrested at this home, where police allege they found a gun and Motocross gear purportedly used during the robbery.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Horta was a 2016 graduate of Thornton High School. He said Horta suffered from colitis, and asked for a medical order.

"He's definitely a danger to the neighborhood and to the people at the car wash," Mahoney said, denying bail.

Horta is due back in court Dec. 9 in Bridgeview.