COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A repeat robber at a West Side Dollar General who once boasted he'd "keep stealing because I'm going to keep getting away with it" was busted outside the store Sunday, prosecutors said.
Corey Vance, 41, is accused of stealing coffee, Pepsi and laundry detergent from the store at 5518 W. Chicago Ave. in Austin.
Vance was stealing two boxes of Starbucks coffee valued at $15.90 on Dec. 12 when he pushed a 46-year-old employee to the ground and said, "I'm going to keep stealing because I'm going to keep getting away with it. And if you call the police, I'll beat your a--," prosecutors said.
He'd previously targeted the store at least twice in September, court records show — taking home $77.70 worth of Gain laundry detergent on Sept. 11 and $13.90 worth of Pepsi on Sept. 14.
During one incident, police said, Vance threatened the same 46-year-old employee with a screwdriver, reportedly shouting, "Get the f--- back."
Using surveillance footage and employee complaints, Chicago police officers were able to arrest Vance outside the Dollar General about 6 p.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report.
Vance, of the 5700 block of West Erie Street, is charged with robbery, retail theft and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
According to court records, Vance has previous misdemeanor convictions for theft, domestic battery, simple assault, battery, aggravated assault to a peace officer, driving on a revoked license, soliciting unlawful business and possession of a replica gun.
In 1995, he was sentenced to six years in prison for manufacturing and delivering cocaine, court records show. He was convicted in illegal gun cases in 1999 and 2002, garnering two years and five years in prison, respectively.
A 2009 conviction for damaging school property brought a three-year sentence, records show. Vance was convicted of drug possession in 2013 and sentenced to three years in prison.
Cook County Judge Donald Panarese Jr. on Tuesday said Vance could be released on his own recognizance if the Cook County Sheriff's Office agrees to provide electronic monitoring. If not, Vance will be responsible for $100,000 bail.
