Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Local Cops, FBI Lead Manhunt for Armed Robber in Oak Lawn

A police perimeter has been set up around a Bank of America branch in Oak Lawn, where police said a robbery occurred this afternoon.

Updated 8:37 p.m.

FBI and South Suburban Crime Reponse are searching the air conditioning ducts because blood was found earlier in the upstairs, Oak Lawn Division Chief Kaufmann said.

Police are using remote control cameras to search inside the ducts. Two teams are searching; one FBI and one South Suburban Crime Response are doing the search.

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"They are still methodically looking, it's going to take time," Kaufmann said.

Reports that police heard barricading are inaccurate.

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Kaufmann also would not confirm if the robber was armed with a TEC 9 gun. He said the robber was armed with an automatic handgun.

Updated 8:04 p.m.

Another updated from Oak Lawn Division Chief Kaufmann. Police are searching the ceiling area of the upstairs offices of the shopping center where a bank robbery occurred Saturday afternoon.

The cops can't bring dogs up there because it's a tight space and dogs won't fit. Blood was also found in the duct work.

Oak Lawn police were the first to respond and removed the two bank employees from zip ties. Kaufmann said there were no other customers inside the bank.

There was never a hostage situation and police believe at this time that there was only one robber.

Another update is scheduled for 8:20 p.m.

Updated at 7:16 p.m.

Oak Lawn police and other area law enforcement agencies continue to surround the shopping center at 111th Street and Pulaski Road where the was robbed Saturday afternoon.

Division Chief Michael Kaufmann, spokseman for Oak Lawn police, said the robber entered the bank through a hole in the roof, which was caught on bank surveillance video. Two tellers were tied up with zip ties.

Police dogs were on standby. The SWAT team continues to search. There will be another update for the media at 7:45 p.m.

Updated at 5:45 p.m. 

Officers are still on the scene and remain clustered in groups around the shopping center. 

Ron Johnson of La Papa's, located across Pulaski, has been holed up with his staff since around 2 p.m.

"They told us to stand behind the counter and away from the windows because we were in the line of sight," Johnson said. 

The crew has been told to stay inside the restaurant if possible and that if they have to leave a police escort would be required. 

Updated at 4:45 p.m.

An FBI special agent released a statement confirming that an armed robbery occurred around 2 p.m. at a Bank of America branch in Oak Lawn.

"A black male described by witnesses as being in his 20s entered the bank and announced a robbery," FBI agent Joan Hyde said, in an e-mailed statement. "The robber was armed with a handgun." 

The suspect fled the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash, she said. The search for him is ongoing. 

Palos Patch Editor Dan Lambert said that around 4:40 p.m. Chicago, Oak Lawn and Alsip police were guarding the perimeter up and down 111th Street. SWAT teams were stationed atop Quigley's and an adjacent business—both are located in the Ranch Manor Shopping Center. 

Calls to Quigley's and other businesses in the complex including Niko's Breakfast Club, Totally Tan and G&L Trophies and Gifts went unanswered around 4:40 p.m.

Updated at 4:20 p.m.

An Oak Lawn firefighter told Patch that police are looking for the perpetrator, or perpatrators, on the rooftop of a popular village bar.

The source said authorities are investigating the area of Quigley's South Side Irish Pub & Craft Beer Bar, 4010 W. 111th St.

Pulaski Road remains blocked and media are being asked to head to a "staging area" on 111th Street between Keeler and Tripp avenues, said a secretary at the . It was unclear around 4:15 p.m. whether a press conference would be held.

Updated at 3:50 p.m.

A helicopter is hovering over the as police continue a manhunt for someone who robbed a bank more than an hour ago on 111th Street.

Chicago Tribune is reporting that the robbery occurred around 2:30 p.m. at a Bank of America branch in the 11100 block of South Pulaski Road. Oak Lawn Patch Editor Lorraine Swanson remains on the scene.

A perimeter has been set up around the bank, she said, noting that there's no traffic allowed on Pulaski Road between 105th and 111th streets.

Police issued an alert around 3:30 p.m., .

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Updated at 3:36 p.m.

, Saturday, according to a village notice.

The message said, "S. Crime Alert: Requesting all residents to remain indoors until you are further notified when it is clear to resume your normal routine."

Stay with Patch for more on this developing story.


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