Robbers target 3 banks on same day; 2 suspects in custody, 1 on the loose

Two people are in custody following a series of apparently unrelated bank robberies Wednesday afternoon on the Near North Side and in the Loop.

Near North District Chicago Police Cmdr. Daniel O’Shea spotted a suspect accused of robbing multiple Chase Bank branches in recent days after hearing the man’s description broadcast over police radio, police said.

About 12:30 p.m., the male suspect robbed a Chase branch at 230 W. Grand Ave., according to police. Shortly after, O’Shea spotted a person matching the description, questioned him and took him into custody.

The FBI said he is also suspected of robbing Chase branches Tuesday at 1122 N. Clark St. and Monday at 755 N. Larrabee St.

Police said O’Shea replaced Cmdr. Paul Bauer in the position after Bauer, 53, was fatally shot while attempting to take a person into custody last February in the Loop.

Also Wednesday, a person was taken into custody about 2:50 p.m. after attempting to rob a Bank of America branch at 1167 N. State St. police said. The person was taken into custody before the robbery could be completed.

Additional information about the robbery attempt was not provided and a spokesman for the FBI did not immediately respond to a request for more information.

Both suspects will be turned over to the FBI.

The third bank targeted Wednesday — a Chase branch at 10 N. Dearborn St. — was hit just after 1 p.m., according to the FBI.

In that robbery, the suspect was described as a black male, between 5-foot-2 and 5-foot-4, about 150 pounds and wearing dark-colored pants, a tan coat and a black sweatshirt.

The FBI was offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information in the case.

Anyone with information was asked to call the FBI’s Chicago Field Office at (312) 421-6700.