Bumbling Bank Bandit Nabbed After Dropping Cell Phone: FBI

Bank surveillance image of Kenneth R. Holeman, 53, who has been charged in the robbery of the First National Bank of Evergreen Park on Dec. 11. |BanditTrackerChicago

A convicted bank robber on probation has been charged in the robbery of an Evergreen Park bank during which an armed security guard fired shots but missed the suspect as he fled the bank.

The FBI said Kenneth R. Holeman, 53, walked into the First National Bank of Evergreen Park, 3960 W. 95th St., Evergreen Park, around noon Dec. 11. Investigators were able to track him down because he dropped his cellphone and paperwork bearing his name after he fled the bank.

• Also on Patch: Security Guard Fires Shots at Fleeing Bank Robber: Cops

According to the federal criminal complaint, Holeman walked up to teller window fumbling to pull a mask over his face and ordered the teller to “give me all the f---ing money.”

The FBI said another teller and the bank’s armed security guard were also behind the counter and overheard Holeman’s demand. The security guard told the tellers to comply with the accused bandit’s request.

The second teller placed about $1,000 in cash on the counter, which Holeman scooped into a bag, the criminal complaint said.

As Holeman took off for the exit door, he dropped some papers, the FBI said. The bank security guard jumped over the counter and yelled to the alleged robber, “Stop, don’t move. I will shoot.”

Once outside, the security guard fired one shot into the air, startling Holeman, who dropped his cell phone and some paperwork with his name on it, the FBI said.

The bank security guard continued chasing the fleeing robber across the street to Jewel-Osco parking lot at 95th Street and Pulaski Road. The bank security guard told investigators Holeman pulled out his car keys and jumped into a silver Pontiac Grand Prix.

As the accused bandit pulled out of the parking lot, the bank security guard fired at the back tire.

According to the complaint, an off-duty Evergreen Park police officer observed Holeman’s car speeding through a red light at the intersection of 87th Street and Pulaski Road, almost causing an accident. The car’s license plate was radioed in for a reckless driver.

The FBI said investigators checked cellphone and Secretary of State driving records and were able to locate an address for Holeman in the 8100 block of South Honore St. in Chicago. Holeman had dropped his cell phone at the bank, along with two ski masks and a black skull cap.

Several days later, Chicago police officers reported finding a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix parked with two flat tires in an alley in the 1100 block of W. 87th Street in Chicago. Two relatives told investigators Holeman had the car towed there on Dec. 12 and told his relatives the car was stolen. He also spent the evening there, the FBI said.

The relatives said they saw a news story about the bank robbery and recognized the individual in surveillance photos as Holeman, the complaint said.

Around 1 p.m. Dec. 14, a confidential source with the FBI reported that Holeman was working on a car near West 69th Street and South Marshfield in Chicago. Chicago police arrested him without incident.

According to the criminal complaint, driver’s license records, witness descriptions, and bank surveillance video matched Holeman’s physical description of a 53-year-old black male, approximately 5-feet-9-inches tall and of considerable girth.

The FBI said bank employees further described him as having a low-style haircut, wearing two masks, a black jacket, blue jeans, a glove on one hand and carrying a bag.

Holeman is on probation for the 2009 robbery of an Oak Brook bank and another heist in 2004, according to court records.

As reported by Patch, Holeman is also a suspect in four other bank robberies that occurred in the Chicago area between July and October. In those robberies, witnesses described the suspect as wearing a Chicago Bears hoodie.

According to the criminal complaint, Holeman got away with $1,820 in the First National Bank of Evergreen Park robbery.