Police searching for Wheaton bank robbery suspect

Wheaton police and the FBI said Wednesday they're looking for a white man between 30 and 40 years old who a day earlier robbed the TCF Bank branch inside the Jewel-Osco at 2031 N. Main St. of an unknown amount of cash.

The man is between 5 feet 8 and 5 feet 10 inches tall with a thin build, police said.

During the robbery, which occurred about 7 p.m., the suspect wore a dark jacket with a hood, glasses and a cloth over his nose and mouth. Police said he fled the scene driving east on Geneva Road in a gray or silver small sedan.

The same bank was robbed in October, but police are unsure if the same suspect committed both robberies.

Police also said they have no reason to believe the man is the so-called Wheaton Bandit, who robbed as many as 16 suburban banks but escaped prosecution when the statute of limitations on the most recent case expired Dec. 7.

“We have no indication it's the same individual,” Deputy Police Chief Tom Meloni said. “It does not fit the description of the Wheaton Bandit.”

Acting alone Tuesday, the man implied he had a gun and got cash from a clerk at the bank counter inside the grocery store, police said. No shots were fired and no one was injured during the robbery.

Anyone with information is asked to call Wheaton detective Cmdr. James Volpe at (630) 260-2055.

Daily Herald staff writer Josh Stockinger contributed to this story