Statute of Limitations to Catch Wheaton Bandit Ends Tomorrow

The statute of limitations to catch a man who allegedly robbed 16 local banks runs out tomorrow, Dec. 7—five years after his last known offense.

The criminal, dubbed the “Wheaton Bandit” due to the bulk of his crimes happening in Wheaton, first struck January 14, 2002 robbing a bank in the 200 block of West Loop Road. Almost one year later on January 3, 2003, the bandit struck another branch in the 200 block of West Street. Less than two weeks later on Jan. 11, the bandit robbed his original bank target, according to bandittrackerchicago.com.

In all, the serial bank robber allegedly robbed 16 banks in the western suburbs—seven of which were in Wheaton and four in Glen Ellyn. The bandit was known to rob the same banks repeatedly. The two banks in Wheaton were robbed a total of five times. Since 2006, the trail has grown cold.

“So far we have been unable to identify this dangerous criminal and the statute of limitations is running out,” said Wheaton Deputy Police Chief Tom Meloni in May.

Meloni said Wheaton investigators have partnered with detectives from other areas where the Bandit struck as well as agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. FBI spokesman Ross Rice told the Chicago Tribune the FBI has two investigators working on the case, but did not provide further details.

He told the Tribune that the Bandit's behavior indicated he had carefully planned the robberies.

Meloni said in May he was confident and hopeful that an arrest will be made before the Dec. 7 deadline—five years since the Glen Ellyn robbery. The federal statute of limitations for bank robbery is five years, so even if caught, the Wheaton Bandit could only be charged with the three 2006 robberies, including those in Winfield, Geneva and Glen Ellyn.

“We need to catch this man before he hurts someone. Armed robbery is a heinous offense,” Meloni said.

He added the Wheaton Police Department pays special attention to financial institutions and to businesses due to the chance for armed robbery. Meloni said with each subsequent robbery, investigators have learned more and more about the bandit. However, he said he could not comment on specific tactics or investigation routes the task force is employing.

Authorities received several breaks in the case, including a possible witness who saw the bandit without his trademark ski mask prior to a 2006 robbery of the Winfield bank. Additionally authorities obtained a bank surveillance photo of someone they call a person of interest who may have been scouting a Glen Ellyn bank prior to its robbery in 2004. 

According to the FBI, witnesses described the Wheaton Bandit as a white male, between between the ages 25-35 (at the time of the robberies), between 5' 10”- 6’ 2” in height, of medium build, with blue eyes. During the robberies, he used a hood or ski mask to help conceal his identity, according to an FBI press release. He is possibly left-handed and has been armed with a semi-automatic handgun during each of the robberies, which he has used to threaten bank employees and customers. He is also thought to have prior law enforcement or military training due to the way he handled the weapon, Special Agent Robert Grant wrote in the press release.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his identification and arrest. Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 312-421-6700.