CHICAGO — A man who authorities believe has robbed five Chicago banks in two weeks hit an Uptown bank Monday morning only to get a surprise when a dye pack that he had been slipped exploded during his escape, authorities said.
The latest robbery occurred about 11:25 a.m. at a North Community Bank branch, 4701 N. Clark St., said Officer Michael Sullivan, a police spokesman.
The robber gave a note to a teller demanding money, Sullivan said. The teller handed him cash along with a hidden dye pack, which is meant to explode and cover a robber with dye.
The pack exploded as the man left the bank, and he was last seen fleeing westbound on Leland Avenue.
Authorities were unable to comment how much money was taken.
The man is likely a suspect in four other bank robberies throughout the city since May 29, said Special Agent Joan Hyde, an FBI spokeswoman.
The four other bank robberies he is connected with are:
• In the Loop at a Charter One Bank branch, 71 S. Wacker Drive, at 2:46 p.m. May 29.
• In the West Loop at a Chase Bank branch, 300 S. Riverside Plaza at 3:41 p.m. May 31.
• In Wicker Park at a Citibank branch, 1455 N. Milwaukee Ave. at 3:57 p.m. Tuesday.
• In Wicker Park at a North Community Bank branch, 1555 N. Damen Ave. at 12:46 p.m. Thursday.
The man is described as being about 35 years old. He's white, is 6-foot-1 tall, weighs about 200 pounds and is bald.
