Crime & Safety
Police: Elmhurst Bank Robber Abandons Money After Dye Pack Explodes; Surveillance Photo Released
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and local police continue to search for a suspect in the Wednesday morning bank robbery at Inland Bank & Trust.
A bank robber ended up abandoning the money he had just stole Wednesday morning from the Inland Bank & Trust in Elmhurst after a dye pack exploded, police said Thursday.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and local police continue to search for a suspect in the robbery that occurred at 8:54 a.m. on Wednesday when police said a white male, who was also wearing a mask, entered the bank and demanded money verbally.
The man did not show a weapon but threatened to have an explosive device, according to Joan Hyde, media coordinator for the FBI in Chicago. Authorities did not locate any type of explosive during their investigation Wednesday and no one was injured in the robbery, Hyde said.
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Following the robbery, the suspect fled on foot to the intersection of Montrose and Saylor and entered a white or silver SUV that was waiting at the intersection, according to a city of Elmhurst news release.
Witnesses told police a dye pack exploded, "possibly contaminating the offender as he entered the vehicle," according to the news release. This is when police said the suspect abandoned the money.
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A surveillance photo has been posted to the BanditTrackerChicago website. The suspect is described as being a white male, between 5'7" and 5'8" and who was wearing a gray hoodie, gym shoes and had his head covered at the time of the robbery.
No information was available on the possibility of another person being involved or of any vehicle that might have been used in connection with the robbery, Hyde said in an e-mail response to Patch on Wednesday afternoon.
Four area schools — Jackson School, Lincoln School, Madison Early Childhood Center and Bryan Middle School —were put on a soft lockdown for about an hour as police conducted a search of the area Wednesday, according to Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
"A soft lockdown is one that prevents any person from entering or exiting the building," according to a message sent by District 205 Superintendent Dave Pruneau to parents around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. "The students, however, are still able to continue class activities under direct staff supervision. We have since been given an all clear from the police department and normal school activity has resumed. "
This is not the first time the Inland Bank & Trust has been robbed. Police arrested Carlos M. Vilanova, 49, of Highland Township, Mich., last August for twice robbing the Elmhurst bank.
Anyone with information regarding this robbery can call the FBI at 312-421-6700.
The above information was updated at 11:15 a.m. on March 6.
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