Man charged after third attempt to rob same Hoffman Estates bank
A Hoffman Estates man is facing a federal bank robbery charge after authorities say he was arrested trying to hold up a village bank for the third time since December.
Shelton R. Brooks, 52, of the 1900 block of Kenilworth Circle, is charged with the robbery of approximately $11,916 from the Hoffman Estates Community Bank at 2200 W. Higgins Road on Jan. 13.
That was the second of the robberies in which Brooks is a suspect, the first having occurred on Dec. 15, according to the criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court.
Brooks reportedly entered the same bank again at 8:30 a.m. Saturday wearing a light blue hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, matching light blue pants and a black cloth covering the bottom half of his face.
According to video surveillance, Brooks also was carrying a black bag over his shoulder when he walked about 15 feet into the bank, made eye contact with a teller and security guard and then turned around and walked out.
As he turned to leave, the teller began to shout, "Robber! Robber!" believing the man to be the robber from the December and January hold ups, according to the complaint.
The security guard followed Brooks outside the bank and asked him to stop, authorities said. Brooks complied, and the security guard put him in handcuffs until police arrived and placed him under arrest.
According to the affidavit of FBI Special Agent David I. Yount, Brooks subsequently confessed to having committed the two earlier robberies because he had a gambling addiction, owed rent money and needed money for his wife and child. Brooks reportedly also confessed to having planned to rob the bank on Saturday morning, according to the affidavit.
The robber in the December and January crimes used notes to give instructions to the bank tellers.
The note in the December robbery read, "Sorry!!! Family in need No dye packs Empty your drawer No sudden moves." January's note read, "Sorry!!! Family in need Empty both your drawers and get 50 thousand in 100's No dye packs or sudden moves Thanks."
Brooks confirmed that he had written both notes and indicated that a third he'd left behind Saturday morning might be found on the floor of the back seat of his car, authorities said.
A search of his vehicle, parked a short distance away, found note in the same handwriting as the other two. It reads, "Sorry Family in need Empty both drawers."
For now, Brooks only faces charges in connection with the Jan. 13 robbery. He remains in federal custody.