A weekend armed robbery at a Pilsen nail salon ended with two very young suspects in handcuffs and a shaken business owner wondering how it all happened so fast.
Chicago police say two boys, just 13 and 14 years old, were arrested after an armed holdup Saturday evening at Mermaid Spa in the 1700 block of West 18th Street, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Both were taken into custody later that same day and appeared in court Monday. They are now facing felony charges while detectives continue to work the case.
Salon owner Nereida Aparicio told reporters that the encounter unfolded in a blur. "It was really fast everything and I was scared," she said, describing a brief struggle when one teen went for the cash register. According to Aparicio, one of the suspects pulled a knife and lifted his sweater to show what appeared to be a gun. She said she was pushed during the struggle and ended up with cuts to her hands.
Then came the mistake that likely sped up the arrests. After the teens ran off, police say one of them realized he had left his cellphone behind and came back, allegedly smashing the front door to get it. The owners said their security cameras were not working at the time, but photos of the teens returning helped officers quickly identify and arrest them, FOX 32 Chicago reported.
Owners plan security upgrades
Mermaid Spa lists its location at 1750 W. 18th St and describes itself as a family-owned shop. After the robbery, the owners say they are moving quickly to upgrade their security systems. The incident has other small-business owners in Pilsen quietly reassessing closing-time routines and basic safety steps.
What happens next
Both teens face felony charges and the case remains under investigation. Officials have not released further details about the specific counts or any additional court dates. Police are asking anyone with information or relevant footage to contact detectives as the investigation continues.
