'Change Up Bandits' Wanted for Oak Park Bank Robberies

Photo credit: BanditTracker Chicago

Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man and woman accused of robbing three banks in Oak Park and one in Chicago over the past year.

Dubbed the change up bandits, the FBI is looking for a man and woman who they believe took part in robberies at Community Bank, 1001 Lake Street in Oak Park, on Dec. 31, 2014, and again on Aug. 3, 2015; Byline Bank at 601 N. Harlem in Oak Park on Aug. 28; and U.S. Bank, 6700 W. North Ave. in Chicago on Sept. 23, according to a Federal Bureau of Investigation press release.

The first bank robbery occurred at Community Bank in Oak Park on New Year’s Eve involved a male suspect who entered the bank at about 12:18 p.m., according to a FBI press release. He was dressed in winter clothes from head to toe. He approached a bank employee and made a threatening demand for money.

On Aug. 3, 2015, a robber generally matching the description of the individual from the December robbery and “operating in a similar manner” entered the same Community Bank branch at about 11:25 a.m. This time, the male suspect was dressed as a woman and was assisted by a female who acted as a look out.

Similar robberies occurred at two other Chicago-area banks in the last month.

The Byline Bank branch located at 601 N. Harlem in Oak Park was robbed in August by a male suspect wearing a head covering and sunglasses. He appeared to be assisted by a female getaway driver. On Sept. 23, the U.S. Bank branch in Chicago was robbed by a female suspect matching the description of the previously mentioned lookout. She appeared to be dressed as a man and was wearing a fake mustache, baseball cap, sunglasses and a sweatshirt.

A gun was displayed in the first two bank robberies. To date, there have been no physical injuries reported in connection with these robberies.

Witnesses have provided the following descriptions of the Change Up Bandits:

• Black male, 35 to 49 years old, 5’ 10” to 6’1” tall, weighing approximately 200 pounds
• Hispanic female, 20 to 25 years old, 5’4” to 5’7” tall with a large build

Both are considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone recognizing the Change Up Bandits or having information about their 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.

More photos of the suspects are available on the BanditTracker Chicago website.