A Worth woman faces carjacking charges Friday after she was accused of brandishing a razor knife at a 29-year-old mother before stealing her sport-utility vehicle from a Hickory Hills parking lot this week.
The carjacking occurred about 5 p.m. Thursday after the victim had placed her 8-month-old son in a car seat in the back of her 2001 Infinity, which was parked in a Walgreens lot at 95th Street and Roberts Road, said Hickory Hills Police Lt. Mark Zvokel.
Kelly Skarnulis, 33, of the 10800 block of South Plahm Court, approached the Palos Hills mother and pointed a razor knife at her, telling her she only wanted the SUV and any money the woman had, Zvokel said.
"The victim also had her 9-year-old son with her at the time. However, he was still inside the store when the hijacking took place," Zvokel said. "The woman quickly removed her baby from the SUV and went back into the store while Skarnulis sped out of the parking lot."
Zvokel said police were able to identify Skarnulis after watching a surveillance tape inside the store. Police recognized the woman from previous contact with her.
"The tape actually showed Skarnulis stalking the victim inside the store while she shopped with her children," Zvokel said. Skarnulis also could be seen on the tape removing the razor knife from a display rack and concealing it under her clothes, he said.
After she was arrested Thursday evening, Skarnulis admitted to police that she stole the SUV and used it for a short time before she gave it to another person, Zvokel said. The vehicle was recovered Friday morning in Robbins, where it had been abandoned. The victim's purse was found inside the SUV but most of her cash had been taken.
"We are still investigating the case to determine who she gave the car to," Zvokel said.
Skarnulis was charged with aggravated vehicular hijacking and is being held in Cook County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bail. She is scheduled to appear in the Bridgeview Courthouse on Oct. 2.
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