Search Intensifies for Loudmouth Serial Bank Robber Dubbed The 'Bully Bandit'

Caption: The many faces of the the elusive ”Bully Bandit” striking a few bullying poses. | BanditTrackerChicago

He’s aggressive, hostile and likes to yell. He may also be a Chicago Bears’ fan given his recent attire, and if you get in his way, he may knock you over in his hurry to flee the scene of one of his many alleged bank heists.

Meet the ‘Bully Bandit,’ Chicago’s most elusive serial bank robber, so named by the FBI because of his threatening and bossy manner with bank tellers and customers.

Starting in late 2012, the robber is suspected of carrying out more than a dozen Chicago-area bank robberies over a seven-month period before becoming inactive. Now, the ‘Bully Bandit,’ appears to be making a comeback, suspected in three recent bank heists, the FBI says.

The serial bank bandit is a male Hispanic in his late 20s to early 30s, approximately 5-feet-8-inches tall with a medium build and a mustache. He keeps the bottom of his face covered with a dark scarf, but in his latest heists he let the mask slip to reveal four, gold- capped bottom teeth.

The reward for information leading to the serial bank robber’s conviction now stands at $17,500. The FBI is hoping that someone might recognize the man in his surveillance video.

The Bully Bandit’s m.o. is to scream threats at employees and customers while demanding cash from the tellers. He’s known to shove customers out of the way in his haste to get to the bank teller, reaching through the window to grab cash out of the teller’s hand if he or she is not snapping to it. He doesn’t try to take over, but does yell a lot.

The FBI says that he usually flees the bank on foot. He’s only displayed a gun once, but keeps his right hand thrust in the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt implying that he’s packing a weapon. He gets away with as little loot as $1,200. Like Greta Garbo, he likes to work alone.

After laying low since May 2013, the FBI thinks the serial bank robber is back, robbing several banks in the past three weeks, when he showed his gold-capped teeth. His latest conquest was the Bank of America at 3300 S. Harlem Ave. in Riverside on Nov. 13. He is suspected of robbing the same bank before on May 2, 2013, before he went on hiatus.

Since November 2012, the FBI says he’s pulled off 16 bank robberies, including:

1. North Community Bank, 1600 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, on Nov. 28, 2012 at 12:28 p.m.
2. Chase Bank. 4440 W. North Ave., Chicago, on Dec. 6, 2012 at 12:26 p.m.
3. PNC Bank, 6620 W. Ogden Ave., Berwyn, on Dec 11, 2012 at 1:48 p.m.
4. PNC. 6650 W. Cermak Ave., Berwyn, on Dec 27, 2012 at 9:59 a.m.
5. Plaza Bank, 5601 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, on Jan. 18, 2013 at 1:43 p.m.
6. Chase Bank, 5620 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, on Jan. 29, 2013 at 12:12 p.m.
7. Chase Bank, 6532 W. Cermak Ave., Chicago, on Feb. 11, 2013, at 10:30 a.m.
8. Chase Bank, 4854 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, on Feb. 12, 2013, at 4:39 p.m. (Bully Bandit robbed a customer at the teller counter.)
9. Chase Bank, 3339 W. Belmont Ave, Chicago, on Feb. 15, 2013, at 2:20 p.m.
10. Plaza Bank, 5601 West Belmont Ave., Chicago, on March 29, 2013, 1:40 p.m.
11. Chase Bank. 2639 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, on April 13, 2013, 2:22 p.m.
12. Bank of America. 3300 South Harlem, Riverside, on May 2, 2013, 12:31 p.m.
13. North Community Bank. 1600 West Chicago, Chicago, Oct. 11, 2014, at 10:44 a.m.
14. Chase Bank. 6612 West North Ave., Chicago, on Oct. 28, 2014, at 10:39 a.m.
15. Chase Bank. 1959 West Division Ave., Chicago, on Nov. 5, 2014, 1:31 p.m.
16. Bank of America. 3300 South Harlem Ave., Riverside, IL on Nov. 13, 2014, at 11:15 a.m.

In the most recent spate of robberies, a Chase bank employee noticed pink smudges on the Bully Bandit’s hands and clothes, leading FBI investigators to speculate that he may be a painter, carpenter, contractor or day laborer. Whatever is happening with this guy, he certainly is prolific.

Special Agent-in-Charge Robert J. Holley is once again asking for the public’s help in identifying and finding the man they have dubbed the “Bully Bandit.”

Anyone with information is urged to call the Chicago FBI at 312-421-6700 or 911. For more photos and information about the Bully Bandit as well as other bank robberies, visit BanditTrackerChicago.