Reward Offered in Search for Serial Bank Robber
The FBI is asking for assistance from the public in identifying and locating a bank robber suspected of carrying out five recent robberies at four Chicago banks. Michael J. Anderson, special agent in charge of the Chicago office of the FBI, announced today that a reward is being offered for information leading to the identification and arrest of the robber dubbed the Pinball Bandit.
The robber earned his moniker based on the frequency and locations of the bank robberies he is suspect of committing. Two robberies occurred on the same day just over an hour apart, and one of the banks was robbed twice in three weeks. The Pinball Bandit first struck on January 13, 2016, at the Chase Bank Branch located at 1204 East 53rd Street in Chicago. At approximately 5:51 p.m., a robber entered the bank, approached a bank employee, and made a threatening demand for money. A robber matching the description of the individual from the prior robbery and operating in a similar manner is also suspected of committing the following bank robberies:
- MB Financial, 5918 North Broadway, Chicago, Illinois, 4:38 p.m. on January 19, 2016.
- Chase Bank, 1130 West Taylor Street, Chicago, Illinois, 5:51 p.m. on January 19, 2016.
- Chase Bank, 1959 West Division Street, Chicago, Illinois, 5:47 p.m. on January 25, 2016.
- Chase Bank, 1204 East 53rd Street, Chicago, Illinois, 5:38 p.m. on February 2, 2016.
To date, there have been no physical injuries reported in connection with these robberies.
The Pinball Bandit is described by witnesses as a male, black, 25 to 35 years old, 5’8” to 6’1” tall, with a slim to medium build and brown eyes. He has been observed wearing a gray or dark hooded jacket, black pants or jeans, a black knit hat or camouflage baseball hat, tan boots, and a gray scarf. He is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone recognizing the Pinball Bandit or having information about his whereabouts is asked to call the Chicago Field 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 Pinball Bandit, as well as information about other unsolved bank robberies in the Chicago area, can be found online at www.bandittrackerchicago.com.
