Bank Robbery Similarities in Des Plaines, Oak Brook, Buffalo Grove Investigated
The FBI and local law enforcement are reviewing a possible connection between three bank robberies in the Chicago suburbs.
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Law enforcement suspects the same man may have robbed banks in Buffalo Grove, Oak Brook and Des Plaines during the last two-and-a-half weeks. The FBI and local authorities are investigating the incidents.
Joan Hyde, spokesperson for the FBI, said agents suspect the same man robbed banks in Des Plaines and Buffalo Grove.
“Based on the physical appearance and the way he carries out the robberies, agents investigating the case believe that the two could be linked,” Hyde said.
The FBI is also reviewing whether or not the same man carried out another bank robbery in Oak Brook.
“[Agents are] still trying to sort out whether they can attribute all three to the same individual,” Hyde said.
The most recent robbery occurred at First Merit Bank, 678 S. Lee St. in Des Plaines, on Nov. 30, police stated. Witnesses told police a man approached a bank teller with a garbage bag and told the worker to put money in the bag. The man then attempted to flee, and was stopped twice by a witness who, according to the report, fought the man before he got into an SUV and drove away.
The robbery in Oak Brook occurred at a Fifth Third Bank, 1603 16th St., on Nov. 29, the Chicago Tribune reported.
At a PNC Bank, 1177 Lake Cook Road in Buffalo Grove, a man, described as white, 5-foot-8, wearing glasses, a Chicago Bears hat and striped sweater demanded money from a bank teller on Nov. 19, according to police.
Two of the three incidents, Buffalo Grove and Oak Brook, are listed on the FBI’s website, BanditTrackerChicago. Not all incidents are listed on the site, Hyde said, because they need a certain amount of information, and a picture, in order to add them.
Des Plaines, Oak Brook and Buffalo Grove police departments are investigating the incidents in conjunction with the FBI.
