Home Chicago Press Releases 2009 Public’s Help Sought in Search for “Scarecrow Bandit”
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Public’s Help Sought in Search for “Scarecrow Bandit”

FBI Chicago August 04, 2009
  • Special Agent Garrett Croon (312) 829-1199

Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is asking for the public’s help in identifying the individual depicted in the attached wanted flyer, who is believed responsible for the armed robbery of at least two (2) northwest suburban banks since of June of this year.

The most recent theft occurred on July 18th, when the First Eagle Bank, located at 1040 East Lake Street in Hanover Park was robbed of an undisclosed amount of money. According to witnesses, the robber entered the bank brandishing a wooded broom stick and approached the lone teller on duty. He then orally announced a robbery and ordered the teller to give him all of the money in her drawer, which he placed in a dark colored cloth bag.

After obtaining the money, he then demanded that a bank customer standing nearby give him the keys to her car and provide him with a description of the vehicle. He then fled the area in the customer’s car, which was found abandoned a few blocks away.

The other suspected theft was at the Citibank branch, located at 2550 Sutton Road in Hoffman Estates on June 20th. No injuries were reported in either robbery.

The “Scarecrow Bandit” is described as a white/male, 40 - 45 years of age, 6’ tall, 250 pounds, large build, with dark hair. He has used what appears to be a sawed off, wooden broom stick to threaten bank employees and customers during each robbery. He has been given the moniker “Scarecrow Bandit” due to the distinctive floppy hat with a full brim and plaid flannel shirt that he wore during the first of his two suspected robberies, along with the apparent use of mud smeared on his face to help conceal his identity.

This case is being investigated by the Chicago FBI along with investigators from the Hoffman Estates and Hanover Park Police Departments.

Additional information about this investigation and other unsolved bank robberies can be found on the Bandit Tracker Chicago web site, www.bandittrackerchicago.com.

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

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

Chicago Area Bank Robbery Wanted Poster (8/4/09)