Lares Fashion and Western Wear in downtown Waukesha robbed for second time

Published on: 6/30/2014

For the second time in three weeks, Lares Fashion and Western Wear in downtown Waukesha was robbed.

The most recent robbery occurred at the store, 245 W. Main St., at about 4:40 p.m. Friday, June 27.

Lt. Joe Hendricks of the Waukesha Police Department said an armed person, wearing a mask over his face, came into the store, displayed a handgun and demanded an undisclosed amount of money.

No one was hurt, Hendricks said. The suspect fled on foot, running west on Main Street.

Investigators are still actively following up on leads.

Hendricks said the department's criminal investigation unit is reviewing downtown business cameras in an attempt to identify the suspect, who according to the police report was a white man between the ages of 20 and 30.

The suspect was wearing a camouflage and black hooded sweatshirt and had a camouflage scarf covering his face, according to the police report. According to the police report, the suspect was also wearing camouflage shorts and white and blue-colored shoes.

Four adults and two kids were in the store at the time of the robbery, according to the police report.

Hendricks said while the suspect tied to the previous robbery is in jail, the police department is looking into whether there are any connections to the two cases.

Dylan Drabek, a 19-year-old Brookfield man, was charged on June 19 in Waukesha County Court with armed robbery after being accused of stealing $9,000 from Lares Fashion and Western Wear on June 2.

According to the criminal complaint, Drabek used a can of mace and his index finger to imitate the appearance of a gun inside a pocket on his hooded sweatshirt, then handed a note to a clerk at Lares Fashion listing his demands.

'Give me the money bags now, I'm desperate and armed, now,' the note said in the complaint.

According to court records, Drabek is being held at the county jail on a $50,000 cash bond. At his preliminary hearing last week, Drabek's attorney made a request for a competency examination for his client. The state did not object, online court records show.

Drabek will be examined by the Wisconsin Forensic Unit within 15 days of the last hearing (June 25). Drabek's attorney's request for modifying Drabek's bail was declined.

Drabek's next hearing is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, July 11, at the Waukesha County Courthouse.