Wheaton Bandit

The Wheaton Bandit is an unidentified bank robber suspected to be responsible for as many as 16 armed robberies around Wheaton, Illinois from 2002 to 2006.[1] He appeared to be 25 to 35 years old at the time of the robberies, always wore a hood or ski mask, and wore different clothing in each robbery. Instead of placing his finger on the gun trigger, he often kept his trigger finger along the side of the gun, a safety position that suggests law enforcement or military training.[1][2] Outlines of his jackets suggest that he also wore a bulletproof vest.[2]

There were at least two possible sightings of the Wheaton Bandit without a face covering. In late December 2004, an unidentified man entered the MidAmerica Bank in Glen Ellyn without conducting a transaction, but was recorded by the bank's security cameras. Two weeks later, in January 2005, the Wheaton Bandit robbed the bank, and the December visitor fit the known physical description of the robber.[1] On November 29, 2006, a witness spotted a suspicious man in the parking lot of the Fifth Third Bank one hour before it was robbed. This witness helped the police draw a composite sketch of the suspicious person.[2]

After the sketch of the parking lot man was released to the public on December 11, 2006, the crime spree abruptly ended and there were no further reports of the Wheaton Bandit.[2] Despite a $50,000 reward being offered for information about the robber, the five-year statute of limitations on the bank robbery charges ran out on December 7, 2011.[1]

Robberies

DateInstitutionLocation
January 14, 2002West Suburban BankWheaton: 295 West Loop
January 3, 2003West Suburban BankWheaton: 221 South West St.
January 11, 2003West Suburban BankWheaton: 295 West Loop
January 28, 2003West Suburban BankWheaton: 221 South West St.
February 12, 2003West Suburban BankCarol Stream: 879 Geneva
March 4, 2003West Suburban BankWheaton: 221 South West St.
May 10, 2003LaSalle BankWheaton: 225 West Front
August 28, 2003Harris BankWheaton: 4 Blanchard Circle
January 22, 2004Health Care Credit UnionWinfield: 27W460 Chicago Ave
July 22, 2004Oak Brook BankGlen Ellyn: 487 Pennsylvania
January 14, 2005MidAmerica BankGlen Ellyn: 674 Roosevelt Road
November 28, 2005Harris BankNaperville: 507 South Washington
January 31, 2006Glen Ellyn Bank & TrustGlen Ellyn: 462 North Park
November 29, 2006Fifth Third BankWinfield: 1 North 111 County Farm Road
December 1, 2006Charter OneGeneva: 421 Hamilton Street
December 7, 2006Glen Ellyn Bank & TrustGlen Ellyn: 462 North Park

[3]

References

  1. Rice, Ross (May 24, 2011). "Public's Help Sought in Search for "Wheaton Bandit"" (Press release). Chicago: Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  2. "The Wheaton Bandit". American Greed. Season 1. Episode 4. 2007-07-12. CNBC. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  3. "Wheaton Bandit – 462 North Park, Glen Ellyn, IL". Bandit Tracker Chicago. Archived from the original on January 6, 2013.
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