DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Wheaton Chief of Police Princeton Youker announced today, Tuesday, November 5, 2024 that Judge Robert Douglas has granted the State’s motion to detain pre-trial a Chicago man accused of robbing a Wheaton AutoZone at gunpoint. Elliot Thomas, age 38, of the 3400 block of West Monroe Street, appeared at First Appearance Court this morning charged with one count of Armed Robbery with a Firearm, a Class X Felony.
Wheaton police officers responded on November 4, 2024, to a call of a man with a gun at the AutoZone located at 809 East Roosevelt Road. Following an investigation into the matter, police learned that Thomas, allegedly entered the AutoZone, selected a Duralast torque socket set valued at $25.99 and exited the building. When Thomas exited the store, he activated the door security sensors at which time a female employee asked him to come back in the store. The employee followed Elliot Thomas outside the store and again asked him to return to the store. Thomas initially ignored the employee’s request but then turned to the employee and allegedly told her in a threatening manner “you don’t wanna know what I have in here.” Allegedly Thomas then unzipped a cross-body bag he had on his person and showed the employee a pistol, later determined to be a loaded Stoeger STR-9, which was a 9 mm pistol, with a fifteen-round magazine. Thomas then got into a 2002 Chevy Tahoe and fled the scene. Glen Ellyn police located Thomas within minutes and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle during which officers allegedly found the loaded weapon inside the cross-body bag. Police officers also found the Duralast socket set inside the vehicle. Thomas was then taken into custody.
“It is alleged that Mr. Thomas not only stole merchandise from an AutoZone but then threatened an employee with a loaded weapon when she confronted him. This type of violent crime will not be tolerated in DuPage County and will be met with the full force of the law. We are all thankful that the employee was not physically hurt during this alleged incident. I commend the Wheaton Police Department for their quick response to the initial call and for their continuing efforts in protecting our businesses and residents alike. I thank the Glen Ellyn Police Department for their heads-up work in locating the defendant within minutes of the alleged robbery as well as Assistant State’s Attorneys Michael McBride and Andrew Poncer for their efforts in preparing a strong case against Mr. Thomas.”
— DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin
“Technology and teamwork led to the swift apprehension of Mr. Thomas. Through our officer’s efforts, we were able to ascertain the direction of travel of Mr. Thomas’ vehicle after the alleged armed robbery was reported. With the assistance of the Glen Ellyn Police Department, we located, stopped and arrested Mr. Thomas. I would like to thank our patrol officers for their quick response and decisive actions, the Glen Ellyn Police Department for their efforts in locating Mr. Thomas, and State’s Attorney Bob Berlin’s office for reviewing the case and approving the armed robbery charge.”
— Wheaton Chief of Police Princeton Youker
The next court appearance for Elliot Thomas is scheduled for December 2, 2024, for arraignment in front of Judge Mia McPherson. If found guilty, Thomas faces a sentence of between twenty-one to forty-five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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