Duo Robs 68-Year-Old Woman Walking to Irving Park Church, Prosecutors Say

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — Two cousins pushed and robbed a 68-year-old woman who was walking to church in the Irving Park neighborhood Sunday, prosecutors said.

But their purse-snatching netted them nothing but handcuffs and felony charges because the woman had no cash and a good Samaritan saw their getaway car and told police.

Jaramaine Wilcox, 24, and Robert Miller, 28, made off with the woman's purse — but quickly dumped it in a nearby trash can when they realized she didn't have any cash, prosecutors said.

Police recovered the blue handbag when they arrested Wilcox and Miller with the help of the good Samaritan 15 minutes later, court records show.

The attack happened about 12:20 p.m. Sunday when Miller approached the woman in the 3900 block of North Spaulding Avenue, Assistant State's Attorney Lorraine Scaduto said during a bond hearing Tuesday.

Miller pushed the 68-year-old woman from behind, grabbed her purse and ran to a waiting 1998 Ford Escort, which was driven by Wilcox, prosecutors said.

A 59-year-old man who witnessed the attack chased after Miller and was able to give police a description of the white Ford, according to an arrest report.

Officers arrested Wilcox and Miller about 12:35 p.m. in the 4100 block of North Avers Avenue after police spotted Wilcox driving the wrong way on a one-way street, court records show.

Wilcox told police he got turned around because he didn't normally drive on the North Side, prosecutors said.

The pair admitted to the attack, and Miller brought police to a trash can in the 3800 block of North Springfield Avenue, where officers recovered the woman's blue purse, police said.

Wilcox, of the 6500 block of South Campbell Avenue, and Miller, of the 7200 block of South Maplewood Avenue, are charged with robbing a victim over the age of 60.

Wilcox was additionally ticketed for driving the wrong way on a one-way street, negligent driving, not wearing a seatbelt, having a passenger without a seatbelt, driving without insurance, driving with altered registration and street-gang contact while on parole.

According to prosecutors, Wilcox is currently on parole for aggravated discharge of a firearm.

Cook County Judge James Brown on Tuesday ordered Wilcox held in lieu of $150,000 bail, while bail for Miller was set at $200,000.

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