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FBI: Des Plaines, Schaumburg bank robberies could be linked

The FBI is investigating whether two bank robberies in the Northwest suburbs this week were committed by the same person, who police say took cab rides to both crime scenes.

According to police, the robber first struck about 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, when he implied he had a gun and demanded cash at the TCF Bank inside Jewel-Osco, 1500 Lee St. in Des Plaines. Before police officers and FBI agents arrived, the robber left with the same unsuspecting cabdriver who dropped him off at the grocery store, Des Plaines police Cmdr. Christopher Mierzwa said.

Detectives tracked the robber by investigating the man's taxi cab trip, Mierzwa said. Detectives narrowed their investigation to one person and visited several of his past residences, Mierzwa said, but couldn't find him before a similar holdup occurred Wednesday in Schaumburg.

On Wednesday, a witness called police to notify them the Des Plaines robber was going to Schaumburg to commit another holdup, authorities said. Schaumburg officers went to the TCF Bank inside the Jewel-Osco at 2501 W. Schaumburg Road and arrested a man as he walked out of the bank.

Police reported finding cash and evidence on the suspect. The FBI is the leading the investigation. No charges had been filed as of late Thursday.

The FBI says this man robbed the TCF Bank inside a Des Plaines Jewel-Osco store Tuesday morning. Courtesy of Bandittrackerchicago.com
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