Crime & Safety
Route 59 Bank Robber Arrested Outside 4th Bank: Plainfield Police
A Lockport man was charged with robbery after Plainfield police said he was arrested in connection with three Route 59 bank robberies.
PLAINFIELD, IL — A Lockport man "connected to all the other bank robberies in the last week" was arrested Saturday in the parking lot of a fourth Route 59 bank by Plainfield police, officials told Patch.
Officer Justin Barma was on patrol around 1:11 p.m. Saturday when he saw an individual at PNC Bank, located at 13470 S. Route 59, who matched the physical description of the suspect wanted in three bank robberies that happened between Oct. 29 and Nov. 4.
Although it's unclear if the man, identified as 30-year-old Brian M. Flesher, was about to rob the fourth bank on Nov. 4, Barma took him into custody without incident, officials said Monday. Police did not respond to Patch's request for comment at the time of publication.
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The Lockport man was charged with robbery, a felony, and is being held at the Will County Adult Detention Facility where his bond was set for $250,000, with 10 percent to apply.
The first in a string of three bank robberies happened at about 11:20 a.m. Oct. 29 at Heartland Bank, 14901 S. Route 59. The second came two days later, just before 5 p.m. on Halloween, at PNC Bank, 2402 S. Route 59.
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Most recently, BMO Harris, at 15101 S. Route 59, was hit, around 4:15 p.m. Nov. 4. The three banks are located within 3.5 miles of each other.
At each of the three banks, the suspect walked in and handed a note to the teller demanding money. In neither instance did the man display or imply he carried a weapon, Patch reported.
The FBI confirmed with Patch the first two bank robberies were "likely related" but did not provide comment about the third.
After the robberies, where the suspect took an unspecified amount of cash, investigators from neighboring towns coordinated with each other and the FBI to identify and arrest the offender, Plainfield police said.
Anyone with information about the crimes is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Kevin McQuaid at 815-267-7209 or the FBI at 312-421-6700.
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