Robber claiming to have bomb causes evacuations in Lansing

(LANSING) A man claiming to have a bomb robbed a south suburban cash advance store Thursday morning, causing the evacuation of several nearby businesses.

About 10:15 a.m., the man entered Advance America at 17655 Torrence Ave. in Lansing, and insinuated that he had an explosive device, according to Lansing police.

The man left the device in the store after the robbery, and drove off in a white vehicle, police said.

Officers evacuated the store and nearby businesses while the Cook County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad investigated the device, which was found to be inert, police said. No one was hurt.

The suspect is described as a 6-foot, 250-pound black man in his late 20s or early 30s with slight facial hair, police said. He was wearing a yellow construction safety vest over a white T-shirt, blue jeans, blue Chicago Bears cap, and sunglasses.

Anyone with information should call police at (708) 895-7150.