Teenagers target prescription drugs, money in armed robbery at Sycamore Walgreens: police

SYCAMORE - A group of teenagers including one adult held a Sycamore Walgreens at gunpoint Friday, and attempted to steal prescription drugs and money, said Sycamore Police Chief Jim Winters.

Three were arrested, including a 16-year-old boy from Rockford, a 15-year-old boy from Beloit, Wisconsin and Mikevion C. Ingram, 18, of Rockford. Police believe a fourth unknown person suspected in the robbery escaped in a vehicle, according to a news release from the Sycamore Police Department Friday.

The 24-hour Walgreens at 1340 DeKalb Ave. in Sycamore, was reopened as shortly after 9:30 a.m. Friday, according to a social media post on Twitter from the Sycamore Police Department.

Winters said criminal charges for the three police have in custody are pending through the DeKalb County States Attorney’s Office.

“They were arrested on scene as they were fleeing by officers from Sycamore, DeKalb and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office,” Winters said.

The robbery is still under investigation by Sycamore police.

Police responded to a call about an armed robbery in progress at 6:30 a.m. Friday, Winters said. Officers from DeKalb and Sycamore departments and deputies from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call, and made contact with three accused of the robbery inside the store.

“The suspects, each armed with a handgun, attempted to flee through the front and side doors of the store but were apprehended after short foot pursuits,” police wrote in a news release.

Two individuals were caught by police in parking lots near Walgreens and the third suspect was caught after he entered the nearby Country Inn and Suites hotel, police said. The Sycamore Walgreens is located near the Blain’s Farm and Fleet parking lot.

Winters said earlier Friday weapons were recovered from the scene by police. According to the release, those weapons were three handguns.

“No shots were fired and there were no reported injuries,” police wrote.

Winters said the three robbers tried to take money and prescription drugs from the Walgreens pharmacy.

“There were various bottles that were recovered,” Winters said.

The retail store and pharmacy was temporarily closed Friday morning. Heavy police presence remained in the parking lot, which was roped off by police tape, through 9 a.m.

Winters said two people – a Walgreens employee and one of the suspects – were taken to Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital by Sycamore paramedics for “precautionary measures,” he said. The two were evaluated and later released from the hospital, according to police.

Anyone with more information about the incident is encouraged to call Sycamore police via telephone at 815-895-3435.

This story was updated at 11:55 a.m. Friday, Feb. 11, 2022 with more information provided by the Sycamore Police Department.