A knife-wielding man suspected of robbing an antique store in Chesterton Monday was captured two hours later in Michigan City with the aid of license plate reading cameras, police said.
The 23-year-old man from Michigan City is being held on robbery charges in the Porter County Jail. He is not being named because charges have yet to be formally filed by the Porter County Prosecutor’s office.
Chesterton police say they were first contacted by someone at Russ & Barb’s Antiques, 222 W. Lincoln Ave., at noon on Monday.
The man had threatened the owner of the business with a knife and ran out of the store with cash, Chesterton Police said. The victim and other witnesses described the man and the license plate number for the vehicle he drove away in.
Afterward, Chesterton Police were able to track the vehicle’s movements with the network of FLOCK license plate reading cameras.
At 2 p.m., Sgt. Mike Oberle of the Michigan City Police Department located the suspect’s vehicle near E. Michigan Boulevard and Carroll Avenue.
Oberle conducted a traffic stop at E. Michigan Boulevard and E. 10th Street, which is near the suspect’s residence, police said.
The suspect was arrested without incident and taken to the Michigan City Police Department, where he was questioned by Chesterton Police detectives. He was later transported to the Porter County Jail.
“This case highlights the importance of investing in and utilizing technology such as the FLOCK LPR system, which continues to be an invaluable investigative tool,” said Chesterton Police Chief Tim Richardson.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
