Wheaton Bandit

Between Jan. 14, 2002 and December 8, 2006, an unidentified man between 25 and 35-years-old would come to be known as the Wheaton Bandit. He commits 16 known bank robberies in the Wheaton, Illinois area including the towns of Carol Stream, Winifield, Glen Ellyn, Naperville, and Geneva. He would end up getting more than $100,000.

He would come into the banks wearing a hood or ski mask, but different clothing each robbery. When he walked in he would be holding his gun placing his finger along with the gun instead of the trigger. The outlines of his jacket suggested he was wearing a bulletproof jacket. The way he held his gun and the possibility of him wearing a bulletproof vest suggests he may have been a police officer or had military training.

There were two possible sightings of the man. In December 2004 a man came into the MidAmerica Bank in Glen Ellyn without conducting a transaction. Two weeks later the same bank was robbed, and this man became a possible suspect. Images of him in the bank were released. Then on the November 29, 2006 robbery a witness stated they saw a man in the parking lot of the Fith Third Bank in Winfield an hour before the robbery. This witness helped with a composite sketch of the suspicious person.

Two more robberies happened on December 1st and December 7th before the sketch was released of the suspicious man. After the composite sketch was released on December 11th there were no more known robberies by the Wheaton Bandit.

By 2011 the statute of limitations has run out on all 16 cases because there is a 5-year statute on the bank robbery charge. The case isn't going to be looked into further as no arrest or conviction could be done for the robberies.

List of Robberies:
Jan. 14, 2002- West Suburban Bank on 295 West Loop in Wheaton
Jan. 3, 2003- West Suburban Bank on 221 South West Street in Wheaton
Jan. 11, 2003- West Suburban Bank on 295 West Loop in Wheaton
Feb. 12, 2003- West Suburban Bank on 879 Geneva in Carol Stream
Mar. 4, 2003- West Suburban Bank on 221 South West Loop in Wheaton
May 10, 2003- LaSalle Bank on 225 West Front in Wheaton
Aug. 28, 2003- Harris Bank on 4 Blanchard Circle in Wheaton
Jan 22. 2004- Health Care Credit Union on 27W460 Chicago Ave in Winfield
July 22, 2004- Oak Brook Bank on 487 Pennsylvania in Glen Ellyn
Jan. 14, 2005- MidAmerica Bank on 674 Rosevelt Road in Glen Ellyn
Nov. 28, 2005- Harris Bank on 507South Washington in Naperville
Jan. 31, 2006- Glen Ellyn Bank & Trust on 462 North Park in Glen Ellyn
Nov. 29, 2006- Fith Third Bank on 1 North 111 County Farm Rd. in Winfield
Dec. 1, 2006- Charter One on 421 Hamilton Street in Geneva
Dec 7, 2006- Glen Ellyn Bank & Trust in 462 North Park

SOURCES:
Wikipedia

Medium

CBS Chicago December 8, 2011

Chicago Tribune