Friday, August 12, 2011

Search Continues for Beverly Bandits

Robert D. Grant, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), was joined today by Garry F. McCarthy, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department (CPD), in asking for the public’s help in identifying the individuals depicted in the below wanted flyer, who are responsible for the armed robbery of the First American Bank branch, located at 11821 South Western Avenue, on Tuesday morning.

The robbery took place just before 10:00 a.m., when two men, both brandishing handguns, entered the bank. One of the robbers stood guard over bank employees and customers from the lobby, while the second robber vaulted the teller counter. After removing money from an open teller drawer, he then forced an employee to open the vault, from which he took an undisclosed amount of cash, placing the money into a black plastic garbage bag that he brought with him.

The robbers then fled the bank and were seen entering a waiting automobile, described as an older model Chevrolet Monte Carlo, grey or silver in color, which was believed to be driven by a confederate. A partial license plate of K 9947 was observed by at least one witness.

As the vehicle was speeding from the area, a security dye pack inadvertently taken by one of the robbers, apparently activated. The robbers then began tossing dye stained money from the moving car. A few moments later, the get-away vehicle struck a City of Chicago refuse truck near the intersection of 116th Street and Oakley Street. Although the vehicle sustained extensive body damage, it was still drivable and continued to flee the area. No injuries were reported during the robbery or the subsequent auto accident.

The two robbers are described as black/males, 25-30 years of age, 5’7”-5’11” tall, medium build, with black hair and brown eyes. Both robbers were wearing what witnesses described as fake beards, black clothing, dark colored caps and gloves.

This case is being investigated by the Chicago FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) which is comprised of FBI Special Agents, Detectives from the Chicago Police Department and Investigators from the Cook County Sheriff’s Police.

Anyone recognizing these individuals or having any information about this robbery is asked to call the Chicago FBI at (312) 421-6700 or any law enforcement agency.

Additional information about this and other unsolved Chicago area bank robberies, including downloadable photographs, is available on-line at the Bandit Tracker Chicago web site, www.bandittrackerchicago.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Copies of the below wanted flyer are available from the Chicago FBI’s press office at (312) 829-1199.

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