Police arrested a suspect who robbed a 61-year-old woman of cash and carjacked her while holding a gun-like object after she exited a business in Waukegan in broad daylight Monday.
The Waukegan Police Department responded around 4 p.m. Monday to the area of 8th Street and Jackson Street in Waukegan for a report of an armed robbery.
A regional law enforcement alert was broadcast and said a white 2016 Mazda CX-5 was stolen during an aggravated vehicular hijacking.
The suspect was described as a white male, in his 30s, 5-foot-9, thin build, with red/orange curly hair. He was wearing a white t-shirt and gray sweatpants.
The alert said the suspect brandished a possible silver handgun wrapped in a plastic bag and fled southbound on Jackson Street.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Windmoeller said the victim, a 61-year-old woman, sought help at La Mexicanita Carniceria Y Taqueria on the corner of 8th Street and Jackson Street where she called 911 and reported her car had been stolen at gunpoint.
The woman told police she was getting into her car after exiting the store when she saw what appeared to be a homeless man close by her car.
She got into her car and the man approached with what she said was a pistol and demanded her money, Windmoeller said.
The woman complied and gave him approximately $50 but he said it was not enough and demanded more.
Windmoeller said the suspect threatened to kill her and she gave him the car keys and he got in and drove off.
The victim’s phone was in the vehicle and her daughter was able to give officers the location of the vehicle nearby.
It was abandoned with the phone and keys inside. Officers found the suspect hiding behind a mattress and fence, Windmoeller said.
The victim positively identified the man as the suspect. He admitted to using a vise-grip pliers with a bag wrapped around it to make it look like a gun in order to rob the victim of her cash and car.
Felony charges are pending against the suspect.