Man who police say robbed Rockdale gas station in custody

ROCKDALE – Police say a man was looking for money for heroin when he held up a gas station last week.

Chief Robert Dykstra said Matthew Riffel, 27, on Tuesday admitted to officers he decided to rob the Mobil, 1802 Moen Ave. on Jan. 7.

"He just wanted to score, took a gun from his father's bedroom and walked to a nearby gas station so he could get the money," Dykstra said.

Shortly before 4 a.m. Riffel allegedly came in to the gas station to use the bathroom, went outside to smoke a cigarette before another customer left and walked back inside to confront the clerk by the door.

"He pulled out a black semi-automatic handgun and said 'Let's make this easy. Put your [cell] phone down and take me to the register,'" Dykstra said.

After taking the cash, the robber ran across Larkin Avenue. Dykstra said footage from surveillance cameras made police suspect the bandit had come from a nearby house without a vehicle.

On Sunday, Riffel's brother allegedly discovered him preparing to shoot up and a struggle ensued, according to Dykstra. When Riffel tried to get a handgun from his jacket, the police were called.

"The gun, the proximity of the house to the gas station and other evidence led officers to connect him with the robbery," Dykstra said. Riffel was hospitalized until Tuesday and questioned at the police station after he was discharged.

Dykstra said Riffel was booked into the Will County jail about 9 p.m. on a charge of armed robbery.