FBI Chicago
Special Agent Siobhan Johnson
(312) 829-1199
August 26, 2015

FBI Seeks Help in Search for the Uptown Beach Bandit

CHICAGO—The FBI is asking for assistance from the public in identifying and locating a bank robber suspected of carrying out three robberies at various TCF Bank locations on Chicago’s north side in the last three weeks. John A. Brown, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI, announced today that a reward is being offered for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the robber dubbed the “Uptown Beach Bandit.”

The Uptown Beach Bandit is described by witnesses as a female, black, approximately 5’3”-5’5” tall, medium to long dark hair, and approximately 30-40 years old. She has been seen wearing a large floppy straw hat, sun glasses and either a green jacket, tan cardigan or light grey hoodie. She is considered armed and dangerous.

The Uptown Beach Bandit is suspected of robbing three banks in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood in the last month. The Uptown Beach Bandit first struck on August 5, 2015, at the TCF Bank branch located at 3531 North Broadway in Chicago. Just before 1 p.m. on that day, a robber entered the bank, approached a bank employee and made a threatening demand for money. On August 14, 2015, a robber matching the description of the individual from the prior robbery and operating in a similar manner entered a TCF Bank branch located at 5343 North Broadway in Chicago. The robber implied she had a gun and robbed the bank. A third robbery took place on August 22nd at the TCF Bank branch located at 4355 North Sheridan Road in Chicago. To date, there have been no physical injuries reported in connection with the robberies.

Anyone recognizing the Uptown Beach Bandit or having information about her whereabouts is asked to call the Chicago office of the FBI at (312) 421-6700 or local police. This case is being investigated by the FBI in coordination with local authorities.

Photographs from the robberies and additional information about the Uptown Beach Bandit, as well as information about other unsolved bank robberies in the Chicago area, can be found online at www.bandittrackerchicago.com.