'North Center Bandit' Puts on Suit, Returns to Same Bank He's Robbed Before: FBI

Photo: The latest photos of the alleged “North Center Bandit,” who is a suspect in four bank robberies in the North Center neighborhood. Bank security cameras picked the bandit up on Oct. 20; he dressed down for the other robberies that occurred over the summer. | BanditTrackerChicago.com

The North Center Bandit has apparently struck again, this time donning a dark suit and knocking off a bank that he robbed in late August, the FBI said.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of a serial bank robber who is suspected of carrying out four bank robberies in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood in the last two months.

His latest conquest is the Chase bank branch at 3335 N. Ashland Ave. Federal agents say that a man wearing a dark suit entered the bank dressed in a large suit entered the bank around 4:09 p.m. Oct. 20. He is believed to have robbed the same bank on Aug. 27.

>>>> ‘North Center Bandit’ Suspected in Three Bank Robberies

The North Center Bandit first struck on Aug. 21 at the PNC Bank branch, 4201 N. Lincoln Ave. Around 2:24 p.m.

A few days later on Aug. 27, a suspect matching the description of the the suspect from the prior robbery entered the Chase Bank branch, 3335 N. Ashland Ave., around 4:02 p.m. and robbed it.

The North Center is also a suspect in the robbery of the Chase branch at 3339 W. Belmont Ave. just after 4 p.m. Sept. 25, the feds said.

The FBI said he’s used the same modus operandi in each of the robberies approaching a bank employee and making a “threatening demand” for money. No injuries have been reported in the robberies.

In the other robberies he is pictured wearing a plaid shirt and baseball cap, but in the last robbery, he put on a suit.

Witnesses have described the North Side Bandit to the FBI as male, white, 25 to 35 years old, 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches tall, and weighing approximately 180 to 210. He is considered armed and dangerous, wearing a plaid shirt and a baseball cap or a dark colored suit.

Anyone recognizing the North Center Bandit or having information about his whereabouts is asked to call the Chicago office of the FBI at 312-421-6700 or local police. This case is being investigated by the FBI in coordination with local authorities.

For more information about the North Center Bandit and other unsolved bank robberies, visit BanditTrackerChicago.