Wheaton man charged in string of armed robberies in Aurora

A Wheaton man has been charged in a string of armed robberies that occurred in Aurora in February and March.

Gregory Lee Garner, 27, of the 200 block of East Union Avenue in Wheaton, is being held in the Kane County Jail on a $500,000 bond. He is being charged in five different armed robberies.

At approximately 7:38 p.m. Feb. 22, Aurora Police responded to For More Liquor in the 100 block of South Broadway Street for a report of an armed robbery, according to a news release from the Aurora Police Department. According to the witnesses, one suspect entered the store, displayed a handgun, and demanded money, cigarettes, and liquor.

Aurora returned to the same store at approximately 8:43 p.m. Feb. 23 for a report of another armed robbery. Witnesses told officers three suspects entered the store, two were armed with handguns, and one was armed with a knife. The suspects again demanded money, cigarettes, and liquor, the release stated.

At approximately 9:50 p.m. Feb. 25, Aurora Police responded to the One Stop store in the 200 block of South Lake Street for a report of an armed robbery. Witnesses told officers two suspects entered the store, and one displayed a handgun, according to the release.

A few days later at approximately 12:55 a.m. March 1, Aurora Police responded to the 7-Eleven store in the 1600 block of Montgomery Road a report of an armed robbery. the release stated. Witnesses told officers two suspects entered the store, and one displayed a handgun.

Then at approximately 4:37 p.m. March 8, Aurora Police again responded to the For More Liquor store in the 100 block of South Broadway Street for a report of an armed robbery. Witnesses told officers one suspect entered the store and displayed a handgun, according to the release.

In each incident, Aurora Police detectives responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses, obtained video recordings, forensic evidence, and other key pieces of evidence. During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that there had been other armed robberies in Marengo, Downers Grove and Naperville.

In each of those robberies, at least one of the suspects matched the description of the suspects in the armed robberies in Aurora, the release stated. Detectives from these agencies worked together to identify and build a case against the suspect.

Over the past few months, detectives have gathered and examined numerous pieces of physical and digital evidence, interviewed several victims and witnesses and followed up on many leads to be able to build a case against the suspect in the armed robberies, according to the release.

His next court hearing is set for June 18.