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Suburban man charged with CTA Red Line armed robberies

Thomas Collins allegedly robbed two teens at gunpoint in separate incidents.

By Jermaine Nolen Updated
A man died after falling onto the third rail of the Red Line tracks June 10, 2020, at the Grand station.
Thomas Collins was charged in connection with a pair of armed robberies on the CTA Red Line in January.
Sun-Times file photo

An 18-year-old man of south suburban South Holland was charged in connection with two armed robberies on the CTA Red Line in January.

Thomas Collins, 18, was charged with aggravated robbery with a firearm and armed robbery, both felonies, Chicago police said.

Thomas Collins
Thomas Collins
Chicago police

Collins was taken into custody about 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, after being positively identified as the person who allegedly robbed a 14-year-old boy at gunpoint about 3 p.m. Jan. 8 in the 1100 block of North State Street, police said.

He was also wanted in connection with a second robbery about 1:40 p.m. Jan. 10 in the 100 block of North State Street, where he allegedly flashed the handle of a gun to a 16-year-old boy before robbing him of his personal property, police said.

No one was injured in either robbery, police said.

Police released a community alert warning residents of the incidents on the Red Line.

Judge Susana L. Ortiz set Collins’ bail at $75,000 during a hearing Thursday, according to Cook County court records. He is due back in court Feb. 11.

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