Man Robs Skokie Bank, Goes To Walmart: Cops

SKOKIE, IL — A man robbed a bank in Skokie on but was caught almost immediately in a neighboring store, authorities said. By the time federal investigators were on their way to the scene of a non-takeover robbery reported Thursday morning at the PNC Bank branch at 3636 Touhy Ave., the suspect was already in custody, FBI spokesperson Garrett Croon said. Jerry J. Williams, 42, of Evanston, was arrested by Skokie police and later turned over to the FBI for criminal charges.

Skokie police said an employee of the bank called at 10:26 a.m. to report a robbery had just occurred. A man wearing a hat and a gray sweatshirt which appeared to have "North Shore" written across it entered the bank and passed a note to a teller.

"This is a robbery," said his note, according to the FBI. "Give me 1000 in large bills pronto." He managed to take $285, according to a criminal complaint. There was no immediate indication a weapon or any accomplices were involved and there were no injuries to any customers of employees at the bank, according to police. (Sign up for real-time email alerts for this and other news from Skokie — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Responding officers were told the robber had fled eastbound on foot across the parking lot and into the adjacent Walmart. Police searched the Walmart and located a man inside who fit the description provided by witnesses at the bank. According to Skokie police spokesperson Eric Swaback, cops caught the suspect in possession of cash from the bank.

Williams was found in Walmart's dairy section, pushing a cart containing a pair of women's shoes, according to a federal criminal complaint. Security footage from the store allegedly showed Williams exit the bank and walk through the parking lot before entering the store. He then briefly went inside the store's bathroom and emerged a short time later no longer the wearing the sweatshirt, which was found in a trash can, according to the FBI.

_{Location of the reported bank robbery (Google Maps)}

_{Top photo: PNC Bank at 3636 Touhy Ave. | Google Street View}