The FBI is seeking information on an unnamed person they believe was involved in robberies Friday at two south suburban banks.
At 4:50 p.m., the FBI responded to a robbery at the Old National Bank, 1030 Dixie Highway, in Chicago Heights. The Oak Forest Police Department responded to a robbery at the Fifth Third Bank, 15533 S Cicero Ave., about 11 miles northwest of the Old National Bank, at 5:53 p.m., according to a police news release.
Special Agent Siobhan Johnson said surveillance footage from both banks shows the person wearing a similar outfit and using the same silver handgun during both robberies, which were around an hour apart.
The man was wearing a grey or beige T-shirt, light-colored jeans with ripped knees, a black cross-body bag and black sneakers during both robberies. The only difference was the man wore a dark-colored baseball cap at the Old National Bank and a green bucket hat at the Fifth Third Bank, Johnson said.
“The rest of the outfit looks strikingly similar,” she said. “Sometimes, it’s ambiguous and other times, it’s a little bit more obvious.”
Johnson declined to say how much money was given to the man, but said he was successful in receiving funds from both banks before authorities arrived.
Surveillance footage Fifth Third Bank in Oak Forest shows the man pointing a silver handgun at the teller and demanding a sum.
During early stages of the investigation, Johnson said any information provided by the public, even anonymously, could potentially earn a reward.
“We’re still following up on logical investigative leads, but at this stage, it really is helpful to get tips from the public,” she said.
The size of the reward will depend on the type of information provided, Johnson said. A small piece of information would be a smaller reward compared to someone able to provide a name, address or something of evidence, she said.
The FBI asks anyone with information to call 312-421-6700 or email tips.fbi.gov.
After both robberies, the man left on foot. Oak Forest police said a K-9 unit searched the area, but police did not reveal any results, according to the news release.
The Oak Forest investigations division, with the FBI, is actively working to identify leads, according to the release. Officials there encourage anyone with information or video footage to contact detectives William Engle or David Lowisz at 708-687-1376.
The FBI is also seeking information on a person suspected of robbing the First Savings Bank of Hegewisch in Lansing Aug. 9, and is offering a reward of up to $10,000.
While the number of robberies is relatively consistent throughout the year, Johnson said in her experience, there tends to be more robbery reports in the months leading up to the holidays.
“In the run up to the end of year holidays, we do tend to see a spike in the number of attempts and successful robberies themselves,” she said.
smoilanen@chicagotribune.com
