Man, 27, Charged In New Lenox Gas Station Robbery, Lottery Ticket Theft: Police

NEW LENOX, IL — A Chicago man has been arrested in connection with the robbery and burglary of a New Lenox gas station earlier this month, police said.

On Monday, Jan. 27, New Lenox Police arrested Leonard Hunter, 27, of the 1100 block of N. 112th Place in Chicago, on charges of robbery and burglary stemming from an incident that occurred on Jan. 10.

On Jan. 10 police were called to the Food N’ Fuel at 2560 N. Cedar Road in reference to a theft in progress. The clerk reported that two males entered the store wearing masks.

One of the men jumped over the counter, and made threats to physically harm the clerk, police said. The two subjects removed liquor, cigarettes, and several containers of Illinois Lottery scratch-off tickets from the store, while a third subject held the door. The approximate value of the stolen merchandise was $13,045.19.

All three subject fled the area in a red pick-up truck. Police said New Lenox detectives learned the same offenders had conducted similar thefts in Peotone, Chicago and Matteson using both a red pick-up truck and a Lincoln SUV. Detectives determined the vehicles used by the suspects were rented through an online service and identified the renter, according to police.

Detectives also collected security video from the area in which the vehicle was picked up. Police say they observed a suspect matching the description of Hunter, wearing similar clothing to a subject on video at Food N’ Fuel, picked up the rental vehicle. Video of the same subject was also collected from multiple locations where stolen lottery tickets were cashed in, according to police.

On Jan. 27, New Lenox and Peotone detectives apprehended Hunter in Country Club Hills in connection to this incident. He was charged with robbery and burglary for the New Lenox incident, and burglary for the Peotone incident.

“Some great police work by all involved getting this arrest and the arrest of others that should soon follow,” said New Lenox Police Chief Louis Alessandrini.

This investigation is still ongoing.