Officers from the 7th Police District captured the suspected armed robber of a Rhawnhurst convenience store early Monday after the bandit hid unsuccessfully inside his would-be getaway vehicle.
Police were quick to respond in cars and on foot to the neighborhood after being alerted to the heist.
The suspect allegedly entered the Wawa store at 8152 Castor Ave. just before 3:30 a.m., pointed a knife at a clerk and demanded cash from the register, said Officer Jillian Russell, a police spokeswoman.
The robber, who was later identified as Shawn Webb, 34, of the 3400 block of Englewood St., allegedly fled the store with $2,200.
A short time later, police spotted a suspicious black Chevy van parked on the 1900 block of Arthur St. with its interior light on and a man inside. Then the van interior went dark.
As officers approached the van, a man jumped out and ran. Police ended a brief foot chase by using a Taser gun on the suspect. The stolen cash was recovered.
According to Capt. Joseph Zaffino, commander of the 7th district, the same 24-hour Wawa store has been robbed more than a half-dozen times in the last three to four years. ••
