Cosmetics Thief Slashes 2 Store Employees, Cops Say

tracked down a man after he cut two employees with a knife who had had allegedly stolen cosmetics from a supermarket, reports said.

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Ryan R. Sturmer, 29, of the 12300 block of Kenneth Ave., in Alsip, was charged with one count of felony-armed robbery.

Police arrived at Jewel Food Store, at 8801 S. Ridgeland Ave., around 11:22 a.m. July 11, where they found a pair of employees with cuts on their forearms. Both refused medical treatment.

A store loss-prevention officer told police she spotted Sturmer stuffing cosmetics down his shirt before walking out of the store with the merchandise under his shirt, reports said.

Another Jewel employee went to assist her in apprehending Sturmer outside the store. Police said Sturmer pushed the 61-year-old employee and cut his forearm with a 4-inch folding knife. The loss prevention officer also tried to grab Sturmer, and he allegedly cut her arm as well and fled the store.

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The employees described Sturmer as approximately 30 years old, with short blond hair, fair skin, pimples, and wearing a Chicago Bulls jersey. Police said Sturmer got into a tan Buick and drove northbound on Narragansett toward Burbank.

Burbank and Alsip police were advised of the vehicle, which was registered to an address in Alsip.

Alsip police said the Buick was not at the address, but that Sturmer resided there and matched the suspect’s description.

Division Chief Michael Kaufmann, of the Oak Lawn Police Department, said that both Jewel employees independently identified Sturmer in a lineup on July 12. Both employees made an immediate identification of the suspect, Kaufmann added.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s office approved felony charges. Sturmer is being held at Cook County Jail without bond.

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