4 Arrested For Waukegan ATM Robberies
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (CBS) -- A rash of automated teller machine (ATM) armed robberies in Waukegan was brought to a halt over the weekend after police nabbed three young men and a juvenile following a traffic stop Saturday.
A patrol officer observed a vehicle make a traffic violation around 10:30 p.m. and he pulled the vehicle over. It was being driven by Orlando Salazar, 19, of the 1 to 100 block of North Victory Street, Waukegan. While the officer was talking to Salazar, he noticed a handgun, two masks and a purse inside the vehicle and became suspicious.
Further investigation found the handgun was a BB gun and the purse belonged to a victim of an armed robbery earlier in the week. Detectives had been working on a series of ATM robberies and an armed robbery where the victim lost her purse. Using a reverse 9-1-1 system notifying residents of the crimes, police received numerous calls of suspicious activity which led to Salazar being deemed a possible suspect.
The gun and masks were believed to be used during the armed robbery as well as two ATM robberies. Salazar and three other occupants of the vehicle were transported to the station for further investigation, where they all gave statements as to their involvement in the three armed robberies.
Salazar was charged with three counts of aggravated armed robbery and is being held in Lake County jail on $200,000 bond. Steve Briggins, 17, of the 600 block of Lorraine Avenue, Waukegan, faces the same charges as an adult and the same bond. Juan Martinez, 19, of the 700 block of South Martin Avenue, Waukegan, also faces the same charges and has a bond of $200,000.
A 15-year-old male juvenile was charged with one count of aggravated armed robbery and was taken to the Hulse Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills.
"I am very proud of Patrol Officer Al Cancino who made this stop which lead to the arrest of these four suspects," said Police Chief Daniel Greathouse. He said he was also proud of the detectives for their efforts in following up on numerous leads and wrapping up this complex case.
"The successful resolution of this case was truly the result of a team effort that could not have been solved without the assistance we received from the community, and for that I thank all of the residents who contacted the department in response to our reverse calling notification system," he said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
