Armed Robbery Suspects held on Million Dollar Bonds

Five suspects from Wauconda and Chicago, charged with attempted armed robbery in Vernon Hills on May 12, are each being held on $1million bonds.

The suspects were being trailed by the U.S. Marshall because two were wanted on outstanding warrants for attempted armed robbery, said Lt. Jim Popovich of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriffs detectives were assisting the U..S. Marshall as the subjects were also suspects in an attempted armed robbery, May 6, at Morelia Boutique, 7103 Manor Dr., in unincorporated Crystal Lake.

The suspects are expected to be involved in other armed robberies and attempted armed robberies in McHenry and Boone counties., according to Officer Sharon Johnson of the Vernon Hills Police Department.

The five suspects charged with attempted armed robbery include: Eliu Villicana-Mancilla, 26, 2619 S. Pulaski, Chicago; Jose M. Villicana-Mancilla, 23, 2505 S. Springfield, Chicago; Joaquin Lopez, 20, 4745 N. Sacramento, Chicago; Christian Martinez-Guererro, 18, 116 W. Church, Wauconda; and Monica A. Cabral, 19, 116 W. Church, Wauconda.

The five suspects attempted an armed robbery in Vernon Hills while under surveillance and that led to their arrests.

The Vernon Hills Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshall Service, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and surrounding police agencies interrupted the armed robbery in progress at La Tienda Del Pueblo grocery store, 115 E. Townline Rd., in Vernon Plaza., according to a news release from the Vernon Hills Police Department.

Three suspects were arrested at the scene and two more were apprehended within 90 minutes of the incident.

According to the news release, the store owner just opened the store when three suspects entered. One suspect forced the store owner to the floor with a gun, while the other two suspects checked the register at the front of the store.

When the store owner’s wife entered the back door, the suspect with the gun told her to get to the floor. Police arrived and three suspects ran out the back door.

One suspect was apprehended and two ran into the nearby neighborhood. Two other suspects were located in a vehicle in the parking lot.

Two handguns were recovered; one at the scene and the other after divers from the Countryside Fire Protection District searched a nearby pond.