FBI SEEKS HELP IN SEARCH
FOR"PANAMA JACK" ROBBER
Robert
D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is asking for the public's help in identifying
the individual depicted in the attached photographs. This individual
is believed to be responsible for the robbery of at least three banks
within the City of Chicago during the past five months, including the
same bank twice.
In
the most recent theft, which occurred on July 28th, a lone robber entered
the Chase Bank branch located at 1851 North Cicero in Chicago. He approached
a teller and handed her a note announcing a robbery and demanding cash.
Although no weapon was displayed, the robber implied that he was armed,
and threatened the teller with harm if his demands for cash were not
met. After being given an undetermined amount of cash, the robber fled
the bank on foot. His last direction of travel and means of escape were
not observed. It is believed that a security dye pack was included in
the money that was given to the robber and that this dye pack possibly
activated outside the bank. No injuries were reported.
Dubbed
the "Panama Jack" robber due to the distinctive Carribean
style straw hat that he was wearing, this individual is also believed
to be responsible for the May 8th robbery of the Austin Bank branch,
located at 5645 West Lake Street; the March 27th robbery of the Banco
Popular branch, located at 1445 West Chicago Avenue and the February
17th theft from the same Chase Bank branch that was robbed last week.
The
"Panama Jack" robber is described as a black/male, 45-55 years
of age, 5'9" tall, 180 pounds, brown eyes, black hair with a mustache.
This
serial bank robber was featured on WFLD-TV Fox 32's weekly segment "Chicago's
Most Wanted" on August 5, 2006.
These
robberies are being investigated by the Chicago FBI's Violent Crimes
Task Force (VCTF), which is comprised of FBI Special Agents, Detectives
from the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and Investigators from the
Cook County Sheriff's Police.
Anyone
recognizing this individual or having information about any of these
robberies is asked to call the FBI's VCTF at (312) 421-6700.
EDITOR's
NOTE: Additional color copies of the attached photographs are available
from the Chicago FBI Press Office at (312) 829-1199.
