Natalia Chi
CHICAGO — Prosecutors twice indicted a man last month for breaking into the Binny’s Binny’s Beverage depot in Lincoln Park. Chicago Police have located dozens of similar break-ins at North Side liquor stores and other businesses.
George Stanton, 50, has been in custody since March 2 when prosecutors were charged with breaking into a liquor store on the 2500 Block in West Lawrence on February 22.
On Thursday, prosecutors told Judge Mariam Ahmad that Stanton and two unidentified men robbed the Vinny family at North Mercy 1720 in the early hours of February 3 and February 16. .
According to prosecutor Sarah Dale Schmidt, the crew got $9,700 worth of goods the first time and $9,000 worth of goods the second time.
Surveillance video recorded both intrusions.
About an hour after the second robbery, the same crew allegedly broke into a 930 West Division Enterprise Rental Car. Video footage shows the criminals arriving in a Dodge Durango, breaking chains, opening the store gates, and punching in the door locks. However, they failed to steal the car. Instead, Dale-Schmidt said he had a portable car jumper and six of his basketballs.
Chicago police identified Stanton in the Enterprise robbery, which helped investigators link Stanton to Vinnie’s case, according to Dale-Schmidt.
Stanton, who is married with “several children,” holds a bachelor’s degree and has worked in a childcare facility for 10 years, his attorney said.
Judge Ahmad, who heard his case on Thursday, ordered him to post $10,000 bail on new robbery charges. He also has to pay an additional $25,000 to get out of jail in a previously filed lawsuit.
Chicago police last month issued a series of regional alerts for liquor store robberies from Hyde Park to Rogers Park to Wicker Park. According to Chicago police documents reviewed by CWB Chicago, three to his five crew members were traveling around the city in a gray Dodge Durango equipped with stolen license plates.
