Two individuals are charged with committing armed robbery against two customers inside a deli located in West Town, where they stole gold jewelry during a bold daytime robbery that is not linked to a series of similar offenses occurring in the downtown area.
According to prosecutors, 25-year-old Elys Calzadilla Perez and 21-year-old Yan Semana Gonsalez entered a deli in the 800 block of North Western Avenue around 5:30 p.m. on September 27 while two men were in line.
A detention petition indicates that Perez brandished a small revolver, threatening a 38-year-old man and forcibly taking a gold chain from around his neck. He subsequently assaulted another victim, aged 31, knocking him to the ground after stealing his chain.
Both victims pursued Perez upon his escape from the store, but Gonsalez obstructed one of them outside the establishment. When the victim stood up, Gonsalez allegedly struck him again, causing him to fall once more. The two then escaped the scene.
Security footage captured the incident, highlighting a distinct tattoo on Perez’s left forearm, which played a crucial role in his identification by authorities. Additional video evidence revealed Perez and Gonsalez in the vicinity shortly before the robbery, driving a gray Toyota, according to law enforcement reports.
On October 1, police spotted the Toyota in traffic, with Perez driving and Gonsalez as the passenger. Following the traffic stop, officers recovered a small starter pistol, which might be capable of firing a .22 caliber bullet, although further testing is pending. Both suspects were arrested and charged with two counts of armed robbery and one count of aggravated battery in a public space.
Judge James Costello has ordered their detention until trial.
The arrests occurred alongside warnings from Chicago police regarding another series of chain-snatching incidents occurring predominantly in downtown areas, such as the Loop, Grant Park, Millennium Park, and the Magnificent Mile.
According to the Chicago Police Department’s third community alert issued on Monday, these thefts have been reported since early August, involving daylight attacks where victims are targeted for their jewelry in public locations. In each case, suspects have used force to snatch gold chains from unsuspecting individuals before fleeing.
Linking various incidents to this crime pattern, the CPD has noted robberies at the following locations:
- 1100 block of South Columbus Dr on August 1 at 9:30 p.m.
- 200 block of East Balbo Dr on August 2 at 9:45 p.m.
- 300 block of South Columbus Dr on August 11 at 3:44 p.m.
- 300 block of East Wacker Dr on August 13 at 5:25 p.m.
- 0-100 block of East Wacker Dr on August 22 at 8:43 a.m.
- 0-100 block of East Wacker Dr on August 22 at 8:48 a.m.
- 200 block of East Roosevelt Dr on August 22 at 11:00 a.m.
- 100-200 of East Wacker Dr on August 29 at 4:12 p.m.
- 200 block of North Clark St on September 6 at 10:20 a.m.
- 100 block of North Lake Shore Dr on September 12 at 3:30 p.m.
- 600 block of North Michigan Ave on September 16 at 3:20 p.m.
- 600 block of North Michigan Ave on September 18 at 3:00 p.m.
- 0-100 block of East Wacker Dr on September 23 at 4:25 p.m.
- 100 block of North Michigan Ave on October 3 at 2:35 p.m.
According to the CPD, the group of chain snatchers may consist of several Hispanic men and women aged between 20 to 40 years old, as well as a Black male wearing a black t-shirt, blue jeans, and white athletic shoes.
Authorities are encouraging anyone who has information regarding the West Town deli robbery or the ongoing downtown crime spree to reach out to Area Three detectives at 312-744-8263 or submit an anonymous tip via CPDTIP.com.
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