Mundelein man arrested for attempted armed bank robbery

A 48-year-old Mundelein man carrying two guns and a knife was arrested outside a bank that police say he was planning to rob.

Kenneth H. Shannon, of the 1200 block of N. Midlothian Road, was charged with attempted armed robbery, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and one count of burglary Wednesday evening at First Midwest Bank, 1500 Allanson Road, Mundelein, police said.

Police were called to the bank about 5 p.m. when they received reports of a "suspicious man." A bank manager called 911 and reported a man wearing a hat, gloves and sunglasses was inside the bank acting strangely, Mundelein Police Chief Raymond Rose said Thursday.

Shannon attracted attention to himself when he roamed the bank in a way unlike most customers, Rose said.

The manager of the bank walked outside the building and got into a customer's car and called police. Shannon followed her out of the bank and another bank employee locked the bank door behind him.

Police, who arrived to the scene in less than a minute, found Shannon in the parking lot acting suspiciously. When officers talked with him, they found he had a revolver in his waistband.

Officers found Shannon was carrying another gun and a knife when he was taken into custody, police said.

Because of Shannon's behavior and statements he made at the bank, the Cook County Sheriff's Police Bomb Squad was contacted to check his vehicle. They found no evidence of explosive devices in or around his red 1998 Chevy Yukon.

The FBI was contacted and assisted in the preliminary investigation.

Police credit the bank employees for acting appropriately in a stressful situation.

"Everybody did what they should have done. The outcome was good for everybody," Rose said.

Because of the way Shannon was acting, police believe this most likely was his first attempt at robbing a bank. Shannon's plans changed along the way, Rose explained. It's this type of inexperienced criminal who could be potentially dangerous, police say.

Experts believe they could see more of this type of crime.

"With the economy going where it is, we'll see more and more of these kinds of events," Rose said.

Shannon appeared in Lake County circuit court in Waukegan for a hearing Thursday, where bond was set at $500,000. He will appear in court June 9, for status of attorney.

• Daily Herald staff writer Tony Gordon contributed to this report.