Crime & Safety
Employees Knew Bank Was About To Be Robbed
New details emerge about Friday's robbery of the Chase Bank branch in Oak Lawn.
Employees knew their bank was going to be robbed last Friday when a man walked in with his head covered by a hoody and a scarf wrapped across his face.
New details emerged located in a strip mall next door to a busy sandwich shop.
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said that a white male entered the bank around 10:30 a.m. when approximately ten employees and customers were present.
Employees told police they sensed they were about to be robbed because of the bandit’s attire, including a scarf that concealed his face. The bandit was also wearing a black leather jacket over his sweatshirt.
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Two tellers watched the bandit approach their window and display a handgun. He then pointed the gun at a teller and said, “Give me all your money. I’m not [expletive] around.”
After the teller complied with the man’s demands, police said he pointed the gun at the other teller and demanded the same.
Employees said the man stashed $3,839 into a black nylon string backpack before he ran out of the bank on foot across the street to the McDonald’s parking lot. The bandit was also reported to be wearing gloves and sunglasses.
A customer in the bank told police that he only overheard the bandit instructing employees to hand over the money.
The robbery happened about an hour where thousands had gathered along the procession route to pay their respects to the fallen Marine who died during combat operations in Afghanistan.
Oak Lawn police said there was at least a five-minute delay because employees called the Chase corporate office to report the robbery before calling police.
Police brought in police dogs to search the immediately area, but the dogs lost the bandit’s scent near 106th Street and Kilpatrick, where it is believed the bandit got into a car and took off.
Witnesses told police they probably wouldn’t be able to identify the bandit--described as a white male between 5-feet 9-inches and 6-feet tall, with a medium build--because they were unable to get a good look at his face.
Shortly after the robbery, the Chicago FBI arrived on the scene. The heist is described as a takeover robbery because the bandit held employees at gunpoint. There were no injuries to employees.
The FBI asks that anyone with information about Friday’s robbery of the Chase bank branch to contact them at 312-421-6700. An unspecified reward is being offered for information leading to the bank robber's arrest and conviction.
More information about the bank robbery is available on the FBI-run website BandittrackerChicago.
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