WEST TOWN — Three teens from Lawndale were arrested earlier this week as they were putting gas into a stolen car at a Bucktown gas station near Western and Fullerton avenues, police said.
The teens were arrested at 5:55 p.m. on Monday after they were seen matching the description of suspects in a robbery that had just occurred, said Officer Nicole Trainor, a Chicago Police spokeswoman.
The teens were pumping gas into a stolen vehicle at a gas station in the 2300 block of North Western Avenue, Trainor said.
Names and mug shots are not available because the alleged offenders are juveniles.
Before the arrest, the juveniles were being sought by the Near West Police District's (12th) Robbery-Burglary Team, who'd put out an alert because youths had been harassing small business owners at salons and boutiques along Chicago Avenue, said Kim Shepherd, a volunteer CAPS facilitator for the Near West Police District (12th).
Shepherd, who posted news of the arrests on the Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Watch Facebook page on Tuesday, told DNAinfo that the teen with the most charges against him has been pegged the "ring leader" by local small business owners.
That suspect, age 15, has been charged with seven counts of felony theft, two felony counts of robbery, one felony count each for aggravated robbery with firearm and aggravated battery in a public space, Trainor said.
A second youth, 16, was charged with one felony count of robbery, three felony counts of theft and two misdemeanor counts of theft for items under $500.
The third juvenile, 14, was charged with one felony count of theft.
Though the youths have been committing thefts and robberies in West Town and Bucktown, police sources said more charges could be filed in the Near West and two other districts in Old Town and Lakeview, as detectives connect them to crimes in their area including an armed car jacking.
Shepherd said that tracking the teens through cell phones helped police to find the boys.
"One woman had her cell phone swiped, the teen offender allegedly communicated on the Facebook page through the victim's social media account and police were able to track the teen through the stolen phone," Shepherd said.
Some small business owners, including a group of four salons, along Chicago Avenue in Ukrainian Village say they believe the boys were the same group that has been harassing them.
"The three boys came in last Wednesday looking to change some small bills for big bills. Two of them walked around the salon testing doors and took turns using the bathroom. It seemed like they were trying to create a diversion," said Laura Boton, the owner of one of the salons.
Boton said salon employees called 911 out of sight from the boys, and as many staff members as possible were standing up front while they were there.
"Staff told them to make an appointment or leave, and they wouldn't leave so they pretended to make an appointment," the salon owner said.
Then, the owner of a neighboring business who saw the three boys enter the shop came to the salon to confront them.
"She sat in our waiting area and told them that she knows who they are and what they do. Upon being confronted, one of the boys threw a handful of candy at her and they all left. The police came about 25 minutes later," Boton said.
Police sources said that at least one of the teens arrested Monday appears to have been captured on video at an Old Town boutique earlier this month, swiping a cell phone valued at $600.
Trainor said police were unable to provide further details on other crimes that the boys could be charged with. That decision would be up to the Cook County State's Attorney's office, Trainor said.
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