Police told the Chicago Herald-News that 23-year-old Hank M. Robinson is responsible for more than a dozen burglaries throughout the Joliet area. His Oldsmobile Alero was stopped close to midnight last week, after police say they observed traffic violations.
Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty, but how will Hank Robinson possibly explain to the court why he had some unusual items in his car? Joliet Det. Jim Voudrie explained his interaction with the state trooper who stopped the suspect:
"He had a cash register and cash drawers inside the vehicle, so state police asked if we had any business burglaries."
Well yes, as a matter of fact, Joliet had experienced quite a few.
Det. Jim Voudrie and his fellow detectives were investigating a break-in the night before at Salon 360, and discovered that the cash register in Hank Robinson's car was from there.
Turns out he confessed to the burglary, and at least 13 others. This was instead of telling officers he wanted an Illinois criminal attorney, and exercising his right to remain silent.
The crimes were committed mostly in Joliet, but also in Plainfield, Minooka, Channahon, and Shorewood. Police said he started his spree in January of this year; hitting one shopping plaza at a time.
The burglaries to which Hank Robinson confessed were typically small businesses dealing with mostly cash; including salons and tobacco shops. Windows and glass doors were broken with a thrown brick or rock. He wasn't alone in the crime spree, as Deputy Police Chief Mike Trafton explained:
"Robinson said he sometimes went into the business to take cash and merchandise and other times acted as the lookout while someone else went in."
Hank Robinson admitted to breaking into the following Joliet businesses, in addition to Salon 360: Professional Choice Hair Design Academy, Rockzorz Salon and Spa, Donut Den, Cho Cleaners, Australian Sun Tanning, Unique Nails, Turtle Wax, New Image Nail Salon, Kenneth Stone Salon, Bella Capelli Salon, Salon La-Kel, AutoZone and Pro Nails.
Related Resources:
-
Burglary (FindLaw)
-
Burglary Suspect Caught after Getaway in Pedal Boat (FindLaw's Legally Weird Blog)
-
Find a Chicago Criminal Attorney (FindLaw)
