Bolingbrook police nab bank robbery suspect

A Maywood man, who also happens to be the boyfriend of one of the tellers, has been charged with Thursday's robbery of a West Suburban Bank branch in Bolingbrook.

According to the FBI affidavit, Robert Thomas forced his way into the branch at 672 East Boughton Road around 6:30 a.m. as employees were opening for the day.

Thomas, wearing all black, including a ski mask and gloves, and carrying a blue backpack, implied he was armed but did not display the pellet gun later found in the pocket of his sweatshirt, authorities said.

During the robbery, authorities said, Thomas forced both tellers to enter their alarm codes before he entered their cash drawers. He then tied the women with plastic ties to a brick pillar inside the bank. He fled with more than $11,600.

Police said they were called at 6:41 a.m. after the tellers were able to reach a cell phone and immediately broadcast a description of the robber.

Seven minutes later, a Woodridge police officer spotted Thomas walking in a residential area about a half-mile from the bank with a blue backpack. Thomas fled when the officer tried to talk to him but was captured after a brief foot chase.

About $9,378 was found in the backpack.

Police then brought both tellers to the area where Thomas was apprehended. Neither could identify him as the robber because he had shed the mask and black clothes.

According to the affidavit, however, one of the tellers did identify Thomas as her "current boyfriend" and father of her 1-year-old daughter.

Authorities would not speculate whether the teller was involved in the plot and no charges have been filed against her.

According to the affidavit, police said Thomas admitted to robbing the bank because he "needed money for his daughter." He said he was familiar with the bank because he used to live in the area.

Thomas is currently being held in the FBI's custody.