Reward Offered in Search for "Oak Lawn Bandit" in Chiacgo

CHIACGO, IL - Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced today that a reward of up to $10,000 was being offered for information which leads to the identification and arrest of the individual depicted in the wanted flyer, who is believed to be responsible for the armed take-over robbery of three Oak Lawn banks, dating to April of this year.

Dubbed the "Oak Lawn Bandit", this individual is suspected in the April 26 and October 1, 2007 robbery of the TCF Bank branch, located at 9801 South Cicero Avenue, and the September 21, 2007 robbery of the Standard Bank branch, located at 4700 West 111th Street, all in Oak Lawn.

According to witnesses, in the most recent theft this individual approached employees opening the bank at approximately 8:00 AM. He pushed them into the bank and further into an employee break room while verbally threatening them and alluding to an unseen co-conspirator waiting outside. The bandit was also armed with a handgun, which he brandished during the robbery.

After obtaining an undisclosed amount of currency from the bank, the robber fled the area on foot. No injuries were reported during any of the robberies, which are being investigated jointly with the Oak Lawn Police Department.

The "Oak Lawn Bandit" is described as a white or Hispanic/male, 30 years of age, 6 feet tall, 250 pounds, who spoke unaccented English. He wore dark clothing and a crude disguise consisting of sunglasses, white surgical tape across his nose, a fake mustache and a stocking cap over an inexpensive "pony tail" wig.

Anyone recognizing this individual or having information about any of these robberies is asked to call the Oak Lawn Police Department of Chicago FBI at (312) 421-6700.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

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