'TCF Bandit' strikes for 12th time, hitting bank in Countryside

The "TCF Bandit" has struck again, making it the 12th time he has robbed a bank since his first crime was reported in February of 2007.

This time, the serial bank robber dubbed the "TCF Bandit" struck the TCF Bank branch at 5545 South Brainard in Countryside on Monday, said Ross Rice, spokesman from the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

Rice said the bandit approached a teller and handed her a note announcing the robbery. He demanded money from her drawer and claimed to be armed with a gun. He also threatened the the teller with harm, but no weapon was displayed and no injuries were reported, Rice said.

The bandit walked away with an undisclosed amount of cash, Rice said.

This is the 12th bank linked to the TCF Bandit, Rice said, including banks in Elmhurst, Norridge, Chicago, and others in the west Chicago suburbs.

The FBI has offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the bandit's capture. Additional information about the case and other unsolved Chicago area bank robberies are available on-line at the FBI's Bandit Tracker web site, at bandittrackerchicago.com