The lesson from this tale, kids, is two-fold:

1. Never trust your friends when the police come knocking;

2. If you're a dead ringer for Smashing Pumpkins lead singer Billy Corgan, consider altering your appearance before committing a crime.

But the advice is too late to benefit William Wilson, 23, of 1007 Wilcox, Joliet, who's accused of knocking a man to the ground Saturday night and stealing his watch, Joliet police Cmdr. Rich Demick said.

According to reports, Wilson allegedly approached the victim at about 8:49 p.m. in the area of Frederick and Hutchins streets and asked him if he "wanted to party," Demick said. When the man said no, Wilson punched him in the face, knocked him to the ground and took his wristwatch, he said.

After the crime was reported, police started canvassing the area. Sgt. Mark Demick (full disclosure: Cmdr. Rich Demick's brother) spotted a man fitting the suspect's description standing outside the Bel-Air Motel, located just a few blocks away at 1103 Plainfield Road, Cmdr. Demick said.

Wilson fled inside the building and into one of the rooms. When Sgt. Demick followed, the people inside pointed to the bathroom and indicated that was where Wilson was hiding, Cmdr. Demick said. Wilson was taken into custody without a fight and was charged with robbery and resisting/obstructing a peace officer.

Wilson's friends also told police that Wilson had been showing off the watch that he told them he'd just taken in a "lick," which is slang for robbery, Cmdr. Demick said. They recovered the stolen timepiece from under a bed in the motel room, where they also found a glass jar of cannabis.

James Dewitt, 25, of 1002 Kelly, Joliet, was arrested on a felony charge of possession of cannabis/10 to 30 grams.

Wilson is being held in the Will County jail. Records indicate he's been arrested twice previously this year -- on July 4 for aggravated battery and mob action and in January for theft.

DON'T MISS THE LATEST JOLIET NEWS. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER

FOR A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TAKE, FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK