Feds Nab Suspected Serial Bank Robber Less Than Block From Site Of First Heist: FBI

WESTCHESTER, IL — A man accused of pulling five bank heists since August was captured by FBI agents Thursday. Corey Lewis, 27, of Bolingbrook was taken into custody Wednesday at approximately 4:30 p.m. at a Mobil gas station at 1950 S. Mannheim Rd., less than a block away from the first bank he allegedly robbed.

According to an FBI report, Lewis had been spotted at a MB Financial Bank in La Grange around 3:11 p.m. Wednesday. About an hour later, special agents spotted a silver Lincoln MKX that matched the one seen in surveillance footage from recent bank robberies heading westbound on Cermak. The driver fit the description of the suspect, so unmarked FBI cars began following the vehicle, which was missing its back license plate, from about two cars behind.

The Lincoln then pulled up to a gas pump at the Mobil station and Lewis waited in the car for awhile before getting out and approaching the unmarked FBI vehicle. The driver fit the description of the suspect of recent bank robberies in the western suburbs: a tall black male with a thin build wearing a button-down shirt and dress pants. When Lewis was taken into custody, agents noted he was wearing virtually the same outfit that was worn during a Sept. 26 robberies of a Chase bank in Glen Ellyn Bank and a Fifth Third Bank in Rolling Meadows.

In Lewis's car, agents also found another button down shirt that matched the one seen in surveillance photos of a Sept. 20 TCF Bank robbery in Westchester, a Sept. 23 U.S. Bank robbery in Plainfield, and a Sept. 27 MB Financial Robbery in La Grange Park. A wallet and a pair of pants found in Lewis's Lincoln also matched up with items seen in bank security footage.

Lewis was captured on probable cause grounds for his suspected robbery of a TCF Bank in Westchester at 2128 Mannheim Rd. on Sept. 20. During the robbery, the suspect rifled through his wallet and handed the teller a note that read, "Give me all of your money. [N]o sudden or suspicious movements or I'll shoot." He then demanded, "Give me everything. Give me all of your hundreds" and insisted on no dye packs.

The teller complied and the man believed to be Lewis left the bank with $1,369. Lewis is also suspected to be involved in the following heists:

• September 18 at 7 p.m.: TCF Bank at 1156 Maple Ave. in Lisle
• September 20 at 6:22 p.m.: TCF Bank at 2128 Mannheim Rd. in Westchester
• September 23 at 3:15 p.m.: US Bank at 13521 S. Route 59 in Plainfield
• September 26 at 1:20 p.m.: Fifth Third Bank at 1801 Algonquin Rd. in Rolling Meadows
• September 26 at Chase Bank at 22 W 151 Butterfield in Glen Ellyn

Image via FBI Chicago field office