FBI: Change Up Bandit robbed Forest Park bank
A man dubbed the “Change Up Bandit,” suspected of three bank robberies in Oak Park and one in the Galewood neighborhood of Chicago during the past 12 months, has struck again — this time in Forest Park.
Wearing a black ski cap, a black coat, black latex gloves — and a fake black beard — the Change Up Bandit robbed the U.S. Bank at 7525 Madison St. on Dec. 31 about 10:10 a.m., the FBI is reporting.
The Change Up Bandit is described as a black male between 5-foot-10 and 6-foot-1 and in his mid-30s to late 40s, weighing between 200 and 250 pounds. In other reported robberies, he has variously been dressed as a woman, wearing a wig; as a sheik, with a red and white checked head cloth and sunglasses; and bundled up in winter clothing with a hat and scarf covering most of his face.
The first bank robbery the man reportedly committed was one year to the day of the Forest Park robbery. On Dec. 31, 2014, he allegedly robbed Community Bank of Oak Park-River Forest at 1001 Lake St. in Oak Park, wearing a brown coat, sunglasses and a winter hat.
He struck again at Community Bank on Aug. 3, 2015, according to the FBI, dressed as a woman. He then allegedly robbed Byline Bank, 601 N. Harlem Ave., on Aug. 28, 2015, dressed as a sheik and is suspected of robbing U.S. Bank at 6700 W. North Ave. in Chicago on Sept. 23., wearing a fake mustache.
In Forest Park, the Change Up Bandit reportedly entered the bank just after 10 a.m. and approached the teller window, presenting a note stating, “Give me all your big bills. I have a gun.”
No weapon was ever displayed, but the teller told police the man was wearing a fake black beard. The teller gave the man an undisclosed amount of cash, and the man was last seen running northbound on Desplaines Avenue and then eastbound.
Police reported locating a pair of black latex gloves on the sidewalk near 320 Desplaines Avenue. A search for the suspect in the area was unsuccessful.
Criminal trespass arrest
An Oak Park man who lives in the 800 block of South Grove was arrested on Dec. 31 at 9:25 p.m. for criminal trespass at Walgreens, 811 S. Madison, after having been warned not to return to the property.
Theft of motor vehicle
A car thief broke into a 2013 silver Toyota Prius in the 200 block of North Grove Avenue shortly after 3 p.m. on Jan. 3. The offenders entered the vehicle through an unlocked door, ransacked the interior and took multiple keys allowing them access to a 2002 black Buick Rendezvous, which they stole. The estimated loss was $1,025.
Burglary to motor vehicle
A 2015 red Chevrolet Traverse was burglarized sometime between 11 p.m. on Jan. 2 and early the next morning in the 600 block of North Elmwood Avenue. The offender entered the garage through an unlocked service door and stole $30 from the unlocked vehicle.
Violation of stalking/no contact order arrest
A 65-year-old Oak Park resident of the 600 block of North Austin Boulevard was arrested on Dec. 30 for violating a stalking/no contact order at 11:37 a.m. in the 100 block of South Oak Park Avenue.
The man was arrested after entering the CTA station in the 700 block of South Boulevard, which was within 100 feet of the protected address. The victim was identified as a Maywood resident.
Burglary
A garage was burglarized in the 1000 block of North Humphrey Avenue sometime between 9 p.m. on Dec. 17 and 6:59 a.m. on Dec. 18. The offender entered the garage by means of a tool to pry open the steel side service door. The offender removed a black Raleigh Venture 3.0 bicycle valued at $550.
Criminal damage to vehicle
The side door to a white Cargomate trailer in the 500 block of Garfield Street was damaged when the offender forced open and damaged the locked side door. The victim was identified as the Park District of Oak Park.
The incident occurred sometime between midnight on Dec. 26 and 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 28. The loss due to damage was an estimated $300.
These items, obtained from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments, came from reports, Dec.30-Jan. 3, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
— Compiled by Timothy Inklebarger and Bob Uphues