(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Two men charged with stealing two vehicles in less than two weeks from the same family in the Beverly neighborhood were slated to appear in court Friday, and the local alderman is asking residents to attend the hearing at the Bridgeview courthouse.
Police say Damarri Conner and Kenneth Merritt stole one vehicle at gunpoint from a couple at their home near 93rd and Pleasant on Nov. 2, then returned 12 days later to steal a second vehicle from the same family.
Ald. Matt O'Shea, 19th, said he wants as many residents as possible to attend their arraignment hearing in hopes that it will influence the court to keep the pair detained before trial.
“I think it’s important to send the message that our community stands in support of the victims, and that we want to make sure that the judge knows that we want to see justice, that we want these individuals held accountable,” he said.
Both Conner and Merritt have extensive criminal backgrounds, O’Shea said.
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