Palos Hills Man, 25, Confesses to String of Armed Robberies: Police

A Palos Hills man tried to tear up the note he planned to use in an armed robbery, but police were able to piece it together, tying him to three similar armed robberies this month.

Nick Koliopoulos, age 25, of Palos Hills, was charged with two counts of Class X felony armed robbery, one count of felony aggravated robbery, and one count of reckless discharge of a firearm, a class 4 felony.

Koliopoulos confessed to several armed robberies, beginning with the April 4 robbery of Palos Pantry at 8100 W. 111th St. Koliopoulos fired a weapon duing that robbery, but the bullet did not hit anyone, police said. 

Four days later, Koliopoulos struck again, police said, at the Marathon Gas Station, 11056 S. Southwest Highway in Palos Hills. On April 13, Koliopoulos then demanded money from the cashier at the Marathon Gas Station at 11056 S. Southwest Highway. 

Palos Hills police stepped up patrols in the area and Palos Hills detectives, patrol officers, and K-9 units, set up surveillance of businesses in the area. On April 17, Deputy Chief Jeff Cucio spotted Koliopoulos walking near Palos Pantry, and noticed he fit the description of the armed robbery suspect. 

Koliopoulos took a note he had concealed and ripped it up as police approached. Officers handcuffed Koliopoulos and Deputy Chief Cucio was able to piece together the note, which was determined to be similar to what Koliopoulos had used in his previous robberies, police said.

Koliopoulos was taken into custody and transported to the Palos Hills Police Department, where he admitted to all three armed robberies and also another one in Worth.

Koliopoulos was found to have been jailed for robbery in Florida, released from 2012, and on parole.

"This was police work at its finest by every member of the Palos Hills Police Department," said Palos Hills Police Chief Paul Madigan.

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