Reward offered in 'Day Break Bandit' robberies

Authorities placed a $20,000 bounty on a man suspected of pulling off three suburban bank heists, the FBI announced Monday.

Federal agents dubbed the man the "Day Break Bandit" because he targets employees in the morning as they open the bank for the day. The robberies occurred in Hinsdale, Plainfield and Romeoville.

The most recent heist occurred March 14 at Marquette Bank at 1876 W. Airport Road in Romeoville.

The masked bandit confronted an employee and unarmed security guard and forced them inside after he threatened them with a handgun that he did not display. Once inside, he stole a "substantial" but undisclosed amount of cash from the bank's vault before fleeing, officials said.

The man followed a similar pattern with the two earlier bank heists one year earlier on March 17 and Oct. 30, 2008, at Harris Bank branches in Hinsdale and Plainfield, respectively. No one was physically injured, but federal agents consider him armed and dangerous.

The bandit is described as a dark-haired black or Hispanic man, about 20 to 25 years old, with a medium build and height of 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-6. He wears a ski mask and hooded jacket or sweatshirt to hide his identity.

The FBI suspects a second person acted as a getaway driver in the robberies, but the accomplice had not been fully described.

Harris Bank and the FBI contributed $10,000 each toward the reward. Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI's Chicago office at (312) 421-6700.