Feb. 08--An armed robbery suspect who targeted restaurants and was the subject of two community alerts was arrested as he allegedly attempted to commit another robbery at a fast food eatery on the Southwest Side late Friday, police said.
Samuel Ferrara, 23, of the 6600 block of West 59th Street, was charged with seven counts of armed robbery, six counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, attempted armed robbery, and theft, all of which are felonies, police said.
Additionally, Ferrara was charged with a misdemeanor count of failure to register a firearm. Ferrara is expected to appear in Central Bond Court on Monday, police said.
About 11:35 p.m. Friday officers and detectives were conducting "covert surveillance" on a fast food restaurant located on the 6400 block of West 63rd Street in an area where the offender had committed previous crimes. Police then spotted an armed man, later identified as Ferrara, enter the restaurant and announce a robbery, police said.
The officers and detectives immediately broke surveillance, entered the restaurant and placed the offender, who was armed with a knife and .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, into custody, police said.
Investigators found Ferrara was also allegedly responsible for several other armed robberies at restaurants in the area, four in January and three in October:
--6400 Block of West 63rd Street on Jan. 1, during the early morning hours
--6400 Block of West 63rd Street on Jan. 7, during the evening hours
--5400 Block of South Harlem Avenue on Jan. 13, during the early morning hours
--4700 Block of South Cicero Avenue on Jan. 13 during the early morning hours
--5400 Block of South Harlem Avenue on Oct. 28, during the evening hours
--6900 Block of South Archer Avenue on Oct. 31, during the evening hours
--4700 Block of South Cicero Avenue on Oct. 31, during the evening hours
