Feds Nab Suspect In Five Bank Heists

An alleged serial bank robber dubbed the “Black Cap Bandit” was arrested May 28 after an acquaintance recognized him from news media reports, the Chicago FBI Division announced.

Roderick V. Burton, 48, of the 6700 block of South Emerald Avenue, Chicago, appeared in federal court last Friday where he was charged with one count of bank robbery.

Nicknamed the “Black Cap Bandit” for the black chapeau that he allegedly wore in a string of robberies, Burton was charged for the New Year’s Eve 2014 robbery of the TCF Bank branch at 3570 North Elston Ave. in Chicago.

According to the criminal complaint, Burton entered the Elston Avenue TCF Bank branch around 11:10 a.m. Dec. 31, 2014. An employee told authorities that the suspected bandit slid a note written in all caps, which stated: “GIVE ME ALL THE 100s AND ALL THE 50s FROM THE BIG DRAWER. DO IT NOW. THIS IS A STICK UP.”

Burton is suspected in a string of bank heists between September 2014 and December 2014, including:

• TCF Bank, 3400 N. Western Ave., Chicago, Sept. 25, 2014
• TCF Bank, 9424 S. Pulaski Ave., Oak Lawn, Oct. 10, 2015
• TCF Bank, 7910 S. Cicero, Burbank, Oct. 29, 2015
• Standard Bank and Trust, 1968 Sibley Blvd., Calumet City, Nov. 6, 2014
• TCF Bank, 3570 N. Elston Ave., Chicago, Dec. 31, 2014

In each robbery, witnesses gave a general description of a black male in his 40s or 50s, about 6’3”, with a heavy building, wide nose, acne marks on his face, and wearing an oversized jacket and black cap. In some of the instances, employees said that suspect wore a black beard that appeared to be fake.

Shortly after local TV news stations began airing bank surveillance photos distributed by authorities, a “Confidential Human Source” saw the photos on TV and contacted the FBI, hearing that a reward was being offered the bandit’s capture.

The source identified the suspect in surveillance photos from three of the five robberies, as well as jewelry, sunglasses and clothing worn by the bandit in the robberies. Bank employees from the various robberies also picked Burton out of photo lineups, according to court records.

Burton was at home when authorities arrived at his residence on May 22. Authorities said that Burton was wearing jewelry similar to that worn during the robberies. They also found other distinctive accessories in Burton’s home, as well as a receipt from a costume shop dated Dec. 23, 2014 for the purchase of spirit gum, a wig, prosthetic nose and fake beard.

Burton is due back in federal court on June 11. If convicted, he faces a maximum prison term of 20 years.