"Bully Bandit" Suspected In 16th Bank Robbery
CHICAGO (STMW) -- The "Bully Bandit" is suspected of striking again Thursday morning in south suburban Riverside, in his fourth suspected bank robbery in the past month after a year-and-a-half hiatus.
He is suspected of robbing a Bank of America branch at 3300 S. Harlem Ave. about 11:15 a.m., the FBI said. The man, who was wearing a dark or gray hooded Chicago Bears sweatshirt, threatened to hurt employees and left with an unspecified amount of cash, authorities said. He implied he had a weapon but never showed one.
The man is also suspected of robbing three Chicago banks since Oct. 11. — more than a year and a half after being suspected of a robbery in May 2013, the FBI said.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $17,500 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the robber.
The robber is dubbed "The Bully Bandit" because of the aggressive manner in which he carries out his crimes, the FBI said. He has pushed customers out of the way to get to tellers, and spoken in a rude manner.
He has displayed a handgun on at least one occasion, although no injuries have been reported in connection with the robberies, the FBI said.
The bandit is described as a 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-8 Hispanic man in his late 20s or early 30s with a medium build, according to the FBI. He has black hair and brown eyes, and appears to have at least four gold-capped lower front teeth.
He typically covers the lower half of his face with a scarf, article of clothing or dust mask, the FBI said. In the Nov. 5 robbery, witnesses noted pink paint smudges on his hands and the white hooded sweatshirt he was wearing.
He is also suspected of the following bank robberies:
— Nov. 28, 2012, North Community Bank branch in the 1600 block of West Chicago;
— Dec. 6, 2012, Chase Bank branch in the 4400 block of West North;
— Dec. 11, 2012, PNC Bank branch in the 6600 block of West Ogden in Berwyn;
— Dec. 27, 2012, PNC Bank branch in the 6600 block of West Cermak in Berwyn;
— Jan. 18, 2013, Plaza Bank branch in the 5600 block of West Belmont;
— Jan. 29, 2013, Chase Bank branch in the 5600 block of West Belmont;
— Feb. 11, 2013, Chase Bank branch in the 6500 block of West Cermak;
— Feb. 15, 2013, Chase Bank branch in the 3300 block of West Belmont;
— March 29, 2013, Plaza Bank branch in the 5600 block of West Belmont;
— April 13, 2013, Chase Bank branch in the 2600 block of North Milwaukee;
— May 2, 2013, Bank of America branch in the 3300 block of South Harlem in Riverside.
— Oct. 11, North Community Bank branch in the 1600 block of West Chicago;
— Oct. 28, Chase Bank branch in the 6600 block of West North;
— Nov. 5, Chase Bank branch in the 1900 block of West Division
The bandit is also suspected of robbing a customer at the teller counter of a Chase branch in the 4800 block of West Irving Park Road on Feb. 12, 2013, the FBI said.
Anyone with information should contact the FBI's Chicago office at (312) 421-6700.
