Man accused of three gaming retailer stickups says he wanted money to get a industrial driver’s license

A 25-year-old man accused of robbing three gaming shops was caught red-handed as he tried to pawn off PlayStation controllers he stole lower than two hours earlier, prosecutors stated.

Aaron Brown, who allegedly informed detectives he was making an attempt to boost cash for a industrial driver’s license, is charged with three counts of aggravated theft. He’s accused of concentrating on two GameCease shops and one impartial gaming store on the Southwest Side.

Back on June 27, Brown allegedly robbed a retailer known as Back within the Game at 7757 South Cicero Avenue. He tried to purchase a PlayStation, two controllers, and a sport round 3:45 p.m., however his bank card was declined twice, in keeping with a detention petition. When the clerk tried to take the gadgets again, Brown allegedly threatened him, saying it wasn’t value dying over a online game system, and walked out with the gear.

Just just a few hours later, he allegedly walked into the GameCease at thirty first and Halsted and bought the stolen PlayStation after presenting his state ID to finish the transaction.

Then, on July 11, he walked into GameCease, 7945 South Cicero, along with his fingers in his pockets, implied he had a gun, and informed the clerk to fill a bag with merchandise, the petition stated. He allegedly made off with 30 controllers for PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch programs, plus two video games. The complete factor was captured on retailer surveillance.

The most up-to-date alleged theft occurred on the similar GameCease round 1:30 p.m. on July 14. Once once more, prosecutors say Brown walked in along with his hand in his pocket, informed a clerk he had a gun, and demanded all the shop’s PlayStation controllers. He allegedly left with a dozen of them and three video video games.

A witness who noticed Brown getting right into a car took an image of the SUV and famous its license plate quantity, which they supplied to Chicago cops. The car, prosecutors say, was registered to Brown.

Police used license plate readers to trace the Jeep. They discovered it lower than two hours after the theft, parked in an alley subsequent to EZPawn at 3951 West twenty sixth Street. Officers allegedly discovered Brown on the pawnshop counter with seven PlayStation controllers laid out on the market. Surveillance video confirmed him arriving with the merchandise minutes earlier.

Brown was arrested on the scene. After being learn his rights, he “made admissions,” telling officers he had dedicated the robberies to get money for his CDL, in keeping with a detention petition.

Judge Rivanda Doss Beal ordered Brown held pending trial. She additionally revoked his pretrial launch in a pending February case, during which he’s charged with aggravated battery to a peace officer, resisting arrest, and illegal possession of hashish by a driver. That case stays open.

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