Police: Group Uses Dating Site to Lure Man to Robbery, Beating

Four teens beat and robbed the man, police said

Two men, a boy and a girl face robbery and aggravated battery charges after luring a young man on a dating website to meet a girl in northwest suburban Round Lake Beach, police said.

When the man arrived Saturday night, the four teens beat and robbed him, police said.

“We have not had one of these before. This is something new,” Round Lake Beach Police Cmdr. Gil Rivera said.

Andrew Widmer, 18, of 359 Meadowgreen Lane; and Leroy Bills, 20, of 1309 Ardmore Drive, both of Round Lake Beach, are charged with robbery, aggravated battery and theft over $500. (Police identified the suspect as Laroy Bills.)

Bills is being held on a $10,000 bond in the Lake County Jail, and was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday. Widmer was released after posting $300, 10 percent of a $3,000 bond, and is due back in court July 1, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s office.

A 16-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy were referred to juvenile authorities on similar charges.

Police said the victim, close in age to the defendants, thought he met a girl on Meetme.com around 10 p.m. June 13 and arranged a date in the 1600 block of Juneway Terrace.

According to police, the 16-year-old waited for him outside a vacant house before leading him to the back. Once behind the house, the three males jumped out and attacked him, hitting him several times with their fists and an object, police said.

They took his cellphone, wallet and shoes before running away, police said.

The victim went to a nearby restaurant to call 911. According to police, he was able to identify the suspects, who were arrested shortly after the incident.

“This was a set-up,” Rivera said. “This is how kids meet now. It’s not at a sock hop. My advice is if you are meeting someone on a social media site, be careful and the meeting should take place in a very public area,” he said.

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