Crime & Safety

Police Searching For Man Who Stole Car with BB Gun

A Will County man and a woman stole a car from an employee at an Orland Park restaurant late Monday night. Police are still searching for the man.

Police are looking for a man who held up an Orland Park restaurant employee with a BB pistol, and fled the scene in the employee's car.

The were called about an armed robbery at Red Lobster, 14750 LaGrange Rd., around 11:55 p.m. Monday, according to Orland Park Police Sgt. Scott Malmborg.

An employee was about to drive away from the restaurant parking lot, when a man pulled out a replica Beretta pistol that fires BB pellets, pressed the gun against the female employee's chest, and demanded that she step out of car, Malmborg said.

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"He told her repeatedly 'don't look at me, don't look at me,' and told her to leave her purse in the car," Malmborg said.

The employee stepped out of the car, the robber got into the driver's seat, and a woman with the robber got into the passenger seat. The two then drove away, heading south on LaGrange Road, Malmborg said. The robber turned right heading west on 167th Street and turned again onto Liberty Drive, where they hit a dead end, Malmborg said.

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The man fled the scene on foot while the car was still rolling, leaving the pistol and all of the employee's belongings behind. The woman passenger fell out of the car and was apprehended, Malmborg said.

The robber was able to escape the area, even as a perimeter was set up, and authorities are still searching for him. A helicopter searched for him early Tuesday morning, hovering over LaGrange Road and 167th Street.

Police identified the man as Jonathan Sarolas, 23, of the 13500 block of Erin Drive in Homer Glen.

Sarolas is described as:

  • White
  • 6-feet, 5-inches
  • 190 pounds
  • Wearing a white T-shirt and black jogging pants with a white stripe down each leg

Sarolas has had prior contact with police, Malmborg said. Police were still looking for him as of 8 p.m. Tuesday.

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