83-year-old man, accomplice arrested for bank heists in Chicago suburbs
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An 83-year-old ex-convict has been arrested and may be connected to seven bank robberies in the Chicago area, including at least one with an accomplice.
According to the FBI, Donald Bennett may have robbed more than half a dozen banks in the suburbs in the last seven months. According to the criminal complaint, Bennett met his accomplice, Edward Binert, 55, in a federal prison in Michigan in 2006.
Bennett and Binert were charged with robbing a Chase Bank in Hickory Hills on Feb. 14. Investigators have gathered evidence that may connect Bennett to six other bank robberies. Still, he has not been formally charged in those cases.
Bennett is known as the Leaping Bandit, and he was released in April 2020 after serving 31 years in prison for five bank robberies in 1987.
Arthur Lurigio, a professor of criminology and psychology at Loyola University, said the FBI has investigated bank robbers since the 1930s. That expertise led them to Bennett and an accomplice nearly four years after his release.
"Bank robberies were one of the first crimes that the FBI became involved in," Lurigio said.
Bennett, Lurgio said, was "probably feeling a sense of practice, competency. He took a long hiatus, but he's going back to what he's familiar doing."
The FBI says between June 2023 and February 2024, seven banks were robbed in the Chicago suburbs.
"He's developed some sense of bravado and still has it burning inside at the age of 83," said Lurigio. "With a younger, but still elderly, accomplice."
In six of the robberies, the motive was the same. An older white male wearing a face covering and a wig and carrying a gun demanded money from the teller. A rental car was used as the getaway vehicle.
"You can regard this bank robbery spree as two people who regard themselves as professional. They're in the same geographic area because they have familiarity with it. And they feel that they have the ability to carry out those activities successfully," said Lurigio.
According to the criminal complaint, the most recent bank robbery happened on Feb. 14 at Chase Bank in Hickory Hills.
This time, they went all out on black face coverings, fake wigs, and fake beards. The complaint says they used a gun to force a teller to hand over nearly $7,000.
Later that day, the two were arrested by the FBI.
"It's not likely they'll be released from prison again," said Lurigio.