Cellular store robbers barricaded victims with a refrigerator before fleeing with bags of iPhones: FBI – CWB Chicago

Four men have been charged federally after a shocking robbery at a Plainfield cellular store, where they allegedly wielded a handgun and made off with more than $92,000 worth of Apple products. Unbeknownst to the perpetrators, they unwittingly took an iPhone equipped with a covert tracking device.

At approximately 11:28 AM on September 24, three masked individuals wearing hooded sweatshirts entered a cellular store located on the 12000 block of South Route 59. One of the assailants menaced an employee and a customer with a firearm. The robbers then targeted the customer and employee, stealing personal valuables before forcing them into a back room, as detailed in the criminal complaint.

The situation escalated when one robber maliciously tripped the customer, causing him to collide with a door frame, leading to a head injury, before kicking him and leaving blood on his boots.

While the chaos ensued, the robbers compelled the store employee to open the safe. The two robbers began to stuff large canvas bags with high-end iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches.

Amidst this robbery, the employee perceived the chime of the front door, indicating a colleague had arrived for their shift. One of the assailants forced the new staff member to crawl into the back room on their hands and knees and ordered them to lie face down alongside the others.

Following the robbery, the intruders herded the victims into a restroom and barricaded the exit using a refrigerator.

The robbers managed to escape with “approximately $92,337.62” in merchandise—predominantly consisting of iPhones—before jumping into a gray Chrysler Pacifica driven by a fourth accomplice, with an additional unidentified person waiting in the back seat.

However, the culprits were not aware that one of the stolen iPhones acted as a hidden tracking device. As they sped away, law enforcement began receiving precise GPS updates. Officers soon located the Chrysler in Blue Island, where it had crashed through a fence before coming to a halt. The occupants fled, abandoning sealed Apple merchandise within the vehicle.

With the aid of an air support unit, officers were directed to the fleeing suspects.

Within minutes, authorities apprehended Sidney Blackmon, Rashaad Collins, Devon Johnson, and Dwayne Parker. The criminal complaint noted that surveillance footage captured Blackmon discarding a .40-caliber Glock into a yard as he fled, a firearm that was subsequently recovered by law enforcement.

In a stroke of detective work, it was determined that Johnson had rented the Chrysler Pacifica earlier the same day. Surveillance video from the rental facility revealed him dressed in the same attire as the getaway driver.

Additionally, traditional detective methods linked Collins and Parker to the crime as they were identified wearing distinctively matching underwear that corresponded with the outfits of two of the masked criminals from the heist.

All four men now face charges of robbery affecting interstate commerce and possession of a firearm during a violent crime.

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Tim Hecke is the managing partner at CWBChicago, having commenced his career at KMOX, a noted news radio station in St. Louis. His journey took him to different stations across Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York City. Tim later developed syndicated radio news and content services catering to all of America’s top 100 radio markets. He assumed the role of managing partner at CWBChicago in 2019.

You can reach him at his email: tim@cwbchicago.com