Man accused of robbing Carol Stream, West Dundee banks caught
A man accused of robbing six Chicago-area banks in the past month was caught after his most recent pursuit, authorities said.
Colby D. Bell, 40, of Chicago was arrested Tuesday as he was fleeing a TCF Bank in Chicago, where he stole $4,128, according to a criminal complaint filed by the FBI. He later admitted to robbing five other banks, authorities said, including ones in Carol Stream and West Dundee.
Bell appeared in court Wednesday, where he was ordered held without bail, said Joseph Fitzpatrick, assistant U.S. attorney. His next court date has not been set.
Bell entered TCF Bank about 10:47 a.m. Tuesday on West 26th Street in Chicago and asked for change for a $20 bill. He then approached an employee's window and handed her a plastic bag and a note, saying he had a gun and demanded the employee quietly put cash in the bag without dye packs, the complaint states.
Bell also verbally threatened the employee, saying he would shoot her if she didn't provide the money, authorities said.
Three employees put cash in the bag, along with a GPS tracking device, documents show. Bell took the bag and left the bank.
The tracking device allowed FBI agents and officers from the Chicago Police Department to locate a Dodge Charger driving at a high speed, officials said. An Illinois State Police trooper then followed the vehicle until it hit a semitrailer truck near Ashland Avenue.
Bell left the vehicle and attempted to run away, documents say, but he was caught by the state trooper and two civilians, who stopped him as he tried to climb a fence. Officers searched the Dodge to find cash and the tracking device, officials said, and he was taken into custody.
During an interview with the FBI, Bell also admitted to robbing five other banks. According to information posted on Bandit Tracker Chicago by FBI Chicago agents, those include: West Suburban Bank on Army Trail Road, Carol Stream, on March 8; Guaranty Bank on Damen Avenue, Chicago, on March 10; Citibank on Devon Avenue, Chicago, on March 12; Guaranty Bank on Ashland Avenue, Chicago, on March 21; and TCF Bank on West Main Street, West Dundee, on March 29.