The Flesh-Masked Bandit has hit the road.
Branching out from his string of heists throughout Chicago`s northwest and west suburbs, the bandit known for his opaque mask has pulled off his 18th bank robbery. This time he went to Rockford to do it.
The latest heist occurred at 10:05 a.m. Thursday when a man brandishing what was ”possibly a semi-automatic” handgun entered the First Community National Bank, 3699 N. Main St., according to Jan Wilhelm, supervisor of the FBI`s Rockford office.
Approaching several tellers, the man thought to be the Midwest`s most prolific bank robber demanded money and stuffed what he was given in a square, dark-colored bag, Wilhelm said. Authorities declined to disclose the amount taken.
The bandit left the bank and took off in a white 1984 Chevrolet Cavalier, which had been stolen two weeks ago from a Rockford suburb, police said. Within an hour, police recovered the car a few blocks away from the bank-a trademark of the Flesh-Masked Bandit`s heists.
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Authorities say the bandit started his string with two bank robberies in Arlington Heights seven years ago. Since March 1990, he apparently has pulled off at least 16 more, they said.
Meanwhile, a robber got away with $3,538 from a Northwest Side bank Friday morning, police officials said.
The suspect entered Irving Bank, 5900 W. Irving Park Rd., about 9:30 a.m. and demanded money in a note he showed a teller, said Jefferson Park District Officer Kenneth Johnson.
Still another bandit carrying a handgun robbed the Lisle branch of the First Nationwide Bank, 1050 Maple Ave., Lisle, Friday morning.
The thief, wearing black clothing and a black ski mask, entered the bank, displayed the weapon, jumped over the teller counter and emptied several cash drawers into a bag, police said.