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A restaurant owner in a Chicago suburb, who runs Arepa Express in Melrose Park, was held at gunpoint by an unmasked robber on May 12. The owner said the robber had first come in too eat, then left and returned multiple times asking to use the restroom before pulling out the handgun and threatening to kill him. The owner believed the gun would be used and said he prayed for help during the ordeal.<\/p>\n

After the robber fled<\/a>, police were contacted following a customer\u2019s 911 call. The robbery took about $10,000 in jewellery, including the owner\u2019s 18-karat Gucci chain and a graduation ring with deep personal value. The owner, originally from Venezuela and a resident in the area for eight years, said the incident was especially arduous as the attacker appeared to be from his own community and country. <\/p>\n