Man zip-tied employee while robbing Palatine business: police

A man has been charged with robbing a business Wednesday in northwest suburban Palatine.

Christopher E. Brackens, 40, is charged with one felony count each of armed robbery and kidnapping for the hold-up in the 100 block of West Northwest Highway, according to a statement from Palatine police.

Palatine police

Authorities responded to the robbery alarm at 7:55 a.m., police said. Officers arrived to find Brackens exiting the back door of the business wearing a mask and arrested him after a brief foot chase.

Investigators learned Brackens had entered the business earlier and waited for an employee to arrive, police said. He ordered the employee to open the safe and then restrained them with zip-ties. He ran when he saw police arriving.

Brackens, who lives in North Chicago, remains held by Palatine police and is expected to appear for a bail hearing Saturday at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building, 2650 S. California Ave., police said.

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