Lake Forest police have arrested a 16-year-old boy who allegedly tried robbing a woman at knifepoint on Friday.
“Lake Forest police originally identified the [suspect], a Lake Forest resident, as a person of interest through investigative leads uncovered late Friday night and Saturday,” authorities said.
The juvenile offender was taken into custody early Monday morning after police responded to a separate report of a stolen vehicle in which the juvenile was reported to be the offender.
Police found the juvenile and recovered the vehicle as well as “unlawful prescription medication and cannabis in his possession.” The juvenile was transported to the police station and was interviewed by detectives.
“Detectives obtained an admission of the juvenile’s participation in Friday’s attempted robbery. The victim also positively identified the offender through a photographic lineup,” police said.
The juvenile was transported to the Lake County Juvenile Detention Center for holding pending a preliminary court hearing on charges of aggravated armed robbery, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of cannabis.
Police responded at 5:20 p.m. on Friday to a report of an attempted armed robbery in the 1000 block of North Western Avenue in Lake Forest. Police said that a woman was robbed at knifepoint by the juvenile boy who ran off after the victim struck him in the head multiple times with her cellphone. The juvenile did not take anything from the victim.
He brandished a large kitchen knife and ran northbound on North Western Avenue from the scene and got away, police said. The victim received treatment at Lake Forest Hospital for a minor cut to the hand.