Public’s Help Sought in Search for Serial Bank Robber

Robert D. Grant, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI, is asking for the public’s help in identifying the individual depicted on the below wanted flyer. This individual, who has been dubbed the “Lunch Box Bandit,” is believed to be responsible for the robbery of at least two banks on Chicago’s north side, dating to December of last year.

In the most recent theft, which occurred on January 18 of this year, a lone robber entered the TCF Bank branch, located at 3570 North Elston Avenue in Chicago, approached a teller, and announced a robbery. He ordered the teller to give him money from her drawer, large bills only, and not to activate any alarms. After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, the robber exited the bank on foot, entering a blue or black colored automobile, possibly a Buick LeSabre, which was parked nearby.

The Lunch Box Bandit is described as a white/male, age unknown, 5’ 10” - 6’ tall, with a medium build. He has worn a black jacket with hood and a ski mask or scarf wrapped around his face, in an apparent attempt to conceal his identity. He has been given the moniker of the Lunch Box Bandit as he has used a blue colored plastic or vinyl lunch box in each of his robberies to carry away the stolen cash.

The other robbery this individual is suspected of committing is the December 20, 2010, theft from the TCF Bank branch, located at 4660 West Irving Park Road in Chicago.

This matter 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 this individual or having any information about these robberies is asked to call the Chicago FBI at (312) 421-6700.

Additional information about this case and other unsolved Chicago area bank robberies, including downloadable photographs, is available online at the Bandit Tracker Chicago website, www.bandittrackerchicago.com.

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