Couple charged with string of armed robberies - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

A Far South Side man and his wife have been charged with a series of armed robberies in which they targeted women walking alone on the street, police announced Thursday.

Charles N. Edwards, 40, and his wife Karena Edwards, 38, would ride around in their vehicle looking for women, police said. Karena Edwards acted as the getaway driver while her husband robbed victims at gunpoint, taking purses and other valuables, according to police.

In court Thursday, Judge Donald Panarese ordered Charles Edwards held without bond, and Karena Edwards held on $1 million, according to Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin.

Charles Edwards is charged with eight counts of armed robbery and 12 counts of aggravated robbery, according to police. Karena Edwards faces seven counts of armed robbery and 11 counts of aggravated robbery. All the charges are felonies.

Area Central Detectives issued a Community Alert on July 14 about several robberies between June 23 and July 12 in the Lawndale neighborhood. They subsequently expanded the investigation as they learned of similar robberies occurring citywide since early May.

A break in the case came when Karena Edwards tried to cash a fraudulent check belonging to a robbery victim, police said. Further investigation revealed she drove a vehicle that matched the description of the one in the robberies, and her husband matched the description of the offender.

The couple, who live in the 13200 Block of South Langley, were taken into custody Tuesday and identified in police lineups.

They are scheduled for a preliminary hearing July 24 in South Felony Court, 155 W. 51st St., Conklin said.