FBI: Bandit Sought In Six Chicago-Area 'Non-Takeover' Bank Robberies

Caption: The man in these surveillance photos is believed to be connected to six bank robberies or attempted bank robberies in the Chicago area between July 9 and Sept. 22, 2014, the FBI said. | BanditTrackerChicago

The FBI is searching for a bank robbery suspect who has allegedly robbed or attempted to rob banks in Oak Lawn, LaGrange Park, Aurora and Chicago.

With the exception of one, all are TCF bank branches, several located inside of Jewel-Osco Stores. All of the robberies occurred before 1 p.m. between July 9 and September 22, according to the feds.

The alleged bandit’s most recent conquest was the TCF bank branch inside Jewel-Osco Store at 8801 S. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Lawn, September 22. A male black described as being in his twenties entered supermarket around 10:21 a.m. and got away with an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect entered the bank clad in a dark hooded sweatshirt and baseball cap with a design on it, although he’s captured in shirt sleeves on surveillance photos in the other robberies.

The same man is also believed to have robbed another TCF bank branch at 2301 N. Harlem Ave. in Chicago the same day as the Oak Lawn robbery.

Like the Oak Lawn heist, the robberies are described on the FBI-run website BanditTrackerChicago as “non-takeover” as the suspected bandit has not shown a weapon.

The FBI believes the same suspect to be connect to the following robberies:

• TCF Bank/Jewel-Osco, 1952 W. Galena Blvd., Aurora, IL, 11:38 a.m., July 9, 2014.
• TCF Bank/Jewel-Osco, 6107 S. Archer Ave, Chicago, IL, 9:37 a.m. Aug. 18, 2014.
• TCF Bank, 2031 N. Harlem Ave, Chicago, 12:50 p.m. Sept. 22, 2014

The suspect is also said to have attempted to rob these bank branches:

• TCF Bank/Jewel-Osco, 507 E. Woodlawn, LaGrange Park, 10:42 a.m., July 16, 2014
• First Midwest Bank. 7181 W Irving Park, Chicago, 9:22 a.m., Aug. 28, 2014

LaGrange Park police believe the suspected bank bandit aborted his robbery attempt at the TCF bank branch in Jewel-Osco at 507 E. Woodlawn, after he spotted two on-duty, uniformed village paramedics and mistook them for police officers.

The bandit had stated to the teller that he wanted to make a withdrawal. When the teller gave him him a withdrawal slip, the bandit said, “not that kind of withdrawal,” and passed her a note that said, “This is a bank robbery,” according to a LaGrange Park police report.

When the two village paramedics entered through the east doors of the store, “he just left,” LaGrange Park Deputy Chief Phil Kubisztal said.

Kubisztal said that bank branches inside of supermarkets are particularly appealing to bank robbers.

“The belief is that there isn’t going to be any security at a supermarket as there is at a traditional bank where where there are security guards,” the deputy chief said.

The TCF bank bandit (he hasn’t yet earned an official FBI nickname) is described as a thin, male black with facial hair, 5-feet-10-inches tall, and weighing approximately 160 pounds. Witnesses have placed his age from mid-20s to late 30s.

Anyone who recognizes the individual in these photos or has knowledge of these or any other bank robberies, please contact FBI Chicago at 312-421-6700. A reward is being offered for information that leads to a conviction.