Police report two robberies and a home invasion in Evanston Monday and say they’ve made arrests in two of the three apparently unrelated incidents.
Home invasion
A 50-year-old woman called police about 9:15 p.m. Monday and said three men, one armed with a shotgun, broke into her apartment in the 1900 block of Jackson Avenue, forced her and several other friends and relatives in to lie on the floor, and searched the apartment before leaving abruptly, apparently without taking anything.
A plainclothes Evanston Police unit in the area noticed a vehicle with three occupants leaving the alley behind the building at high speed just after the incident and stopped it for traffic violations in the 1600 block of Emerson Street.
Police Commander James Elliot says two suspects were arrested at the vehicle. A third fled on foot but was apprehended in the 1900 block of Darrow Avenue.
Police say they recovered a shotgun from the vehicle. No charges have been filed as yet. The investigation is continuing.
Teens steal groceries
Just before the home invasion report and about a block away in the 1800 block of Ashland Avenue, a 41-year-old woman told police she was carrying groceries from her car toward her home when three teenagers approached her.
After asking for directions, one teen displayed a handgun, grabbed a bag of groceries, forced her to turn over her handbag and then fled the scene with his accomplices. The victim said the robbers appeared to be in their early to mid teens.
Police are investigating that incident but have made no arrests.
Victim recognizes robber
A 20-year-old Evanston man told police he was walking in the 500 block of Dodge Avenue about 3:30 p.m. Monday when a man approached him and demanded that he hand over a necklace he was wearing.
The victim told police he recognized the robber from high school. Based on his identification, police located 22-year-old Donald Anthony Gill of 232 Callan St. about three hours later at Foster Street and Green Bay Road.
Police say the suspect was carrying a necklace that the victim identified as the one stolen from him.
Mr. Gill’s now scheduled to appear in district court in Skokie Nov. 7 on theft charges.