PUBLIC'S HELP SOUGHT IN SEARCH FOR SERIAL BANK ROBBERS

Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is asking for the public's help in identifying the individuals depicted in the attached photographs, who are believed responsible for the armed take-over robbery of two banks in the Chicago area, early last month.

The most recent theft occurred on January 4th at the Chase Bank branch, located at 800 West Madison Street in Oak Park. According to witnesses, the robbers entered the bank brandishing handguns and announcing a robbery. They forced bank employees to give them cash from the drive-up teller's drawer and the bank vault. They then fled the area in a waiting automobile, described by witnesses as a dark blue Saturn.

These same individuals are believed responsible for the robbery of the Chase Bank branch, located at 4001 West 167th Street in Country Club Hills, the previous day. No injuries were reported in either theft.

Robber # 1has been described by witnesses as a black/male, 20 - 30 years of age, 5'5" - 5'8" tall, medium build, with dark hair. He was wearing a black White Sox baseball cap and cream colored jacket with "LRG 1947" written on the back.

Robber # 2 was described as a black/male, 20 - 30 years of age, 5'5" - 5'7" tall, medium build with a light complexion. He was wearing a black baseball cap and a burgundy colored jacket with "Raiders" written on the back. Robber # 2 had apparently used a black marking pen to draw a goatee on his face. Both robbers wore gloves during the robberies.

In appealing to the public for help, Mr. Grant noted that 2006 was once again a record year for bank robberies in the five county metropolitan Chicago area, with 284 reported . This number surpassed the previous record of 240 that was set in 2005. "Citizen involvement has always been an essential element of effective law enforcement, which is even more important today, given our limited resources and increased responsibilities" said Grant.

These robberies are being investigated by the Chicago FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF), which is comprised of FBI Special Agents, Detectives from the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and Investigators from the Cook County Sheriff's Police (CCSP). Anyone recognizing these individuals or having any information about either of these robberies is asked to call the Chicago FBI at (312) 421-6700.

EDITOR's NOTE: Additional copies of the attached photos are available from the Chicago FBI Press Office, either by e-mail or courier, at (312) 829-1199.