North Riverside police have arrested a man they suspect of robbing a 57-year-old woman outside her home in January.
Robert Truell, 24, of Sauk Village, will appear at a bond hearing at the Maybrook courthouse on Thursday afternoon. He is charged with armed robbery, a Class X felony that carries a prison sentence of up to 30 years, if convicted.
At the time of his arrest on Feb. 26, Truell was on parole from the Illinois River Correctional Center in Canton after serving part of a four-year sentence for convictions in 2014 related to manufacture/delivery of heroin.
North Riverside police arrested Truell at the Cook County Criminal Courthouse, Branch 43, at 3150 W. Flournoy St. in Chicago, where he appeared for a hearing after being charged with reckless conduct in Chicago on Jan. 5.
The arrest followed a month-long investigation in which police obtained video and other evidence from businesses in both North Riverside and Hillside, which pointed directly to Truell.
According to police, Truell and at least one other person followed the victim home to the from Jewel-Osco, 7201 24th St. in North Riverside, at about 6:40 p.m. on Jan. 17. Truell reportedly told police he had gone to Jewel to buy cigarettes and that he recognized the victim as she exited Jewel. The two, who did not know each another, had patronized another North Riverside business just prior to that.
As the victim drove away from Jewel, police said, Truell and his associate followed her home. Truell reportedly approached the victim as she was taking bags from the trunk of her car.
He allegedly demanded the victim’s purse, which he grabbed before running back to his vehicle and fleeing the scene. The victim reported that the man who stole her purse was holding a handgun at the time.
After stealing the victim’s purse, Truell and a woman reportedly entered the Target store in Hillside and attempted to buy an Apple Watch valued at $429 with a credit card taken in the robbery. The purchase was declined.
Another woman reportedly also tried to purchase a pair of gift cards at the same Target using a debit card stolen in the robbery, but was unsuccessful. Later that same night, police said, Truell and another man reportedly entered a Jimmy John’s restaurant in Hillside, where both men successfully purchased food using a credit card stolen in the robbery.
Police reportedly obtained video evidence from Jewel and Target and a transaction receipt identifying Truell by name from another North Riverside business during their investigation.
North Riverside Police Chief Deborah Garcia said no more arrests are expected to be made related to the case.
