Aurora 7-Eleven clerk, customer attacked during armed robbery

AURORA, Ill. (WLS) -- Police are asking for the public's help identifying two men who they say beat up a clerk and struck a customer during a robbery at a 7-Eleven in southwest suburban Aurora.

Surveillance video shows the suspects entered the convenience store located in the 2200-block of South Eola Road around 11:35 p.m. on Feb. 12.

Police said after they walked up to the 45-year-old male clerk, one of the men pulled out a handgun, demanded money and "battered" him. Then the two suspects took the clerk to a back office, demanded more money and kicked and hit him again, police said.

On their way out of the store, police said they grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes and punched a customer. The 20-year-old Aurora man had walked into the store while the suspects were in the back office with the clerk. The customer did not need medical attention.

The clerk was taken to a hospital in Aurora, treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released.

Police advise convenience stores to take extra precautions against criminals who may think they're easy targets.

"Usually it's later in the evening when less patrons are in the store; one person working, it would be a great help if there were two employees," said Lt. Pete Inda, Aurora police.

Aurora Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 in cash for information leading to an arrest.

Anyone with information should call Aurora police at 630-256-5500 or Aurora Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000.