Warrenville bank robber escapesBy Harry Hitzeman Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted 3/11/2005
LaSalle Bank in Warrenville was robbed Thursday morning by a lone gunman who drove away and then abandoned his car, authorities said.
"No one was injured. No shots were fired," said FBI spokeswoman Cynthia Yates. "He's not in custody right now."
The crime occurred about 11:30 a.m. when a man wearing a ski mask walked into the lobby brandishing a handgun and announcing the robbery, Yates said. He was described as being 5 foot 6 or 5 foot 7 and dressed from head to toe in black and dark blue.
After taking an undisclosed sum, the man got into a car and drove off from the bank at the northwest corner of Route 59 and Ferry Road, near the Naperville border.
(thats 2 blocks from where I work!!!))The car was found about a mile away. Yates declined to release the exact location or make and model.
(( I saw it - 1999 or 2000 WHite grand caravan ))Because the man was clad in all dark clothing, investigators were "not even sure what his race or ethnicity is," Yates added.
Warrenville Police Chief Bob LaDeur referred all questions to the FBI.
As of mid-afternoon, bank patrons were still being turned away. The building had a note on the front door, saying it was "temporarily closed" because of an "emergency situation."
Bank officials declined to comment, and the branch's telephone message said the bank couldn't be contacted "due to unforeseen circumstances."
Business owners in the 4M Plaza and Office Center, where the one-story bank is located, said at least 10 police cars responded, including units from Winfield and West Chicago.
The 5,200-square-foot branch opened in October 2004, according to the company's Web site.