Man charged in attempted Hoffman Estates bank robbery

A 23-year-old man is charged with the attempted armed robbery of a Hoffman Estates bank April 1 and is awaiting his next hearing in federal court Monday.

Authorities said Mark A. Sanchez was arrested in the aftermath of the robbery attempt at the Huntington Bank branch inside the Jewel-Osco on the 1400 block of West Palatine Road, but did not provide his hometown.

According to court documents, the robber wore a dark-colored puffy jacket, an unruly long, black wig, a surgical mask and glasses when he entered the grocery store at 9:06 a.m.

A teller told investigators the robber said, “I need to make a withdrawal, I need all of your hundreds.” He then opened a case to reveal a black semiautomatic handgun. Authorities said the gun was loaded and had a round chambered.

The teller then told the robber a call needed to be made to get hundred-dollar bills released before going into an office and calling security.

Hoffman Estates police received a call of an attempted bank robbery and arrived at about 9:20 a.m.

An Inverness police commander was already inside the store for unrelated reasons when he heard the call over the radio, according to court records. He exited the store and met Hoffman Estates officers outside before they entered the store together as first responders.

They reportedly observed a man who was later identified as Sanchez walking toward them who stated words to the effect of, “It’s me. I am the one you are looking for.” He was taken into custody without incident, authorities said.