Pair Kidnap Elderly Woman, Force Her to Withdraw $9K

81-year-old woman wasn't injured but was told she'd be killed if she told anyone about the crime

A man and woman kidnapped an 81-year-old woman from a southwest suburban grocery parking lot Wednesday then forced her to withdraw $9,000 in cash, police said.

The ordeal happened at about 3:15 Wednesday afternoon as the woman was shopping at 95th and Pulaski in Oak Lawn. She didn't report it until Thursday morning because she was "very scared," officials said.

While loading groceries into her car, the woman was approached by a man and woman who attempted to "pigeon drop," 

claiming they wanted the woman’s help with some money they allegedly found, the release said.

She said she was not interested and got into her car. That’s when the man and woman also got into her car and the man placed an item hidden in a bag against her head. He told her it was a gun and forced her to drive to her bank, saying he would kill her if she told anyone, the release said.

The woman drove to a bank nearby where she was threatened into withdrawing $9,000, police said. The man took the money and forced the victim to drive to another bank at 95th and Western. A transaction there was denied and the victim was told to drive back to the grocery, where both robbers got out.

The woman was not injured, the release said.

Detectives are reviewing local video cameras to gather more information but have surveillance images of the man. Physical evidence was recovered and will be sent to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab for analysis, the release said.

Anyone who recognizes the man or has information about the incident should call Dets. Hudziak or Brice at 708-499-7822 or 708-422-8292.

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