Arrest in New Year’s Day carjacking

February 9, 2014 – Running out of a gas in a car he allegedly stole was just the start of a bad day for a Chicago man accused of robbing two people in River North on New Year’s Day.

Brandon Burns (left), who lives south of downtown on East 77th Street, was arrested on January 31 after Chicago police observed him getting out of a car and pushing it into a South Side gas station.

A check of the license plate revealed the car had been stolen at gunpoint from a 40-year-old woman on January 1 at a parking garage in the 100 block of East Chestnut Street.

Just a few hours earlier, Burns is believed to have robbed a 24-year-old woman – taking her purse and wallet – inside a garage in the 100 block of West Superior Street.

After both victims identified him, Burns was charged with armed robbery and aggravated vehicular hijacking, both felonies. The Chicago Police Department announced the arrest on February 5.

The announcement did not mention a second man who was involved with both robberies, according to an alert issued by police on January 14.

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