Aurora police are searching for the men involved in a crime spree that included an armed robbery, a carjacking and a hit-and-run crash.
At approximately 5:27 p.m. Saturday, police responded to an armed robbery call on the 400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue. Three teenage girls – a 13-year-old and two 14-year-olds – said they were walking with two teenage boys they had just met. When they crossed the street, a green minivan approached traveling at a high rate of speed. The minivan stopped just north of the group and a man with a handgun and wearing a bandanna over his face got out and demanded their valuables. One of the boys handed over some jewelry and the man ran back to the vehicle, which then sped westbound on Plum Street from Pennsylvania Avenue.
The girls told police the minivan was occupied by at least two other men. One of the 14-year-olds was treated by Aurora Fire Department paramedics for a minor injury to her leg which she sustained when she was hit by the minivan when it approached.
A few minutes after the armed robbery, an Aurora police officer spotted a vehicle matching the description of the one in the armed robbery stopped at a red light heading westbound on Illinois Avenue at Randall Road. When the occupants saw the officer, the driver took off at a high rate of speed with the officer in pursuit. The driver of the minivan disregarded several traffic control devices and the pursuit was ended when it was deemed unsafe, police said.
The driver of the minivan proceeded to box in a Ford Taurus near Route 56 and Interstate 88. The Taurus was driven by a 63-year-old man, with his 61-year-old girlfriend as his passenger. There were at least four people in the minivan, all of whom jumped out and approached the Taurus, according to the couple. Two of the them were armed with handguns and proceeded to order the man and woman out of the car. The suspects stole the Taurus and took off westbound on Route 56.
At approximately 5:49 p.m., the Taurus was involved in a hit-and-run crash at Prairie Street and Edgelawn Drive. A 68-year-old woman told police she had just completed her turn from southbound Edgelawn onto eastbound Prairie when her vehicle’s rear fender was hit by the Taurus, which was also eastbound but at a high rate of speed. Within about three minutes of the crash, police received a call saying the Taurus stopped suddenly in the area of Lake Street and Ridgeway Avenue and its occupants ran away.
Police believe at least three people were in the car at the time it was abandoned. There were no injuries as a result of the hit-and-run crash.
A search of the area did not turn up any of the suspects. The Illinois State Police assisted Aurora police in the investigation of the carjacking and subsequent search for the suspects.
The green minivan used in the armed robbery and involved in the chase was reported stolen from the 600 block of Gates Avenue sometime between 9:30 p.m. Friday and 12:10 p.m. Saturday. The owner had left the vehicle parked on the street, unlocked, with the keys in the cup holder.
Aurora police are asking anyone with information on the incidents to call them at 630-256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to any arrests. Tips can also be submitted through the Aurora Police Department’s free mobile app.
