A Glenview couple, Gregory Poulos and his wife, Angie Beltsos, experienced an armed robbery, recorded by their doorbell camera as they returned home from dinner this past Monday night. Around 10 p.m. on Bluestem Lane, three masked gunmen ambushed the couple, with the ABC7 Chicago interview revealing Beltsos's reflection on the harrowing experience: "It was surreal, to be honest. You don't know what to think. You sort of freeze."
During the confrontation, which extended to the point where the assailants compelled the couple to lie prone on the ground, belongings including wallets, a purse, coats, and jewelry, such as Gregory Poulos' wedding band and a family heirloom were taken, the victims complied immediately fearing for their safety, Poulos, a trained nuclear reactor operator in the U.S. Navy stated, "Your home is supposed to be your safe place, and having that taken away is very unfortunate," speaking to the sense of violation felt despite their relief of survival, Angeline Poulos told the Sun-Times.
The stolen Jaguar SUV used as the getaway vehicle was later found abandoned in the 4300 block of South Federal Street in Chicago's Fuller Park neighborhood, as stated by the Glenview Police Department. Pondering the incident, Gregory Poulos credited his military experience for his composure and conveyed his thoughts to ABC7 Chicago: "Whether you are churning inside or not, you have to remain calm on the outside, and you have to be very deliberate in what you do."
Neither of the publications noted any arrests in connection with the robbery thus far the couple has extended their gratitude for the outpouring of support from their community, and with the robbery footage shared on neighborhood platforms, they hope to encourage others to be alert and proactive in ensuring their own safety, Angie Beltsos spoke to ABC7 Chicago, emphasizing an inherent expectation of safety within one's own home, "Anywhere in this city, anywhere in this country we should be safe in our homes."
As the Poulos family moves forward from the violation of their sanctuary, the Glenview Police Department continues to solicit information from the public; anyone with insights into the case is urged to call at (847) 901-6055 to assist in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
