Man charged in burglary of Palatine bank

A 26-year-old Palatine Township man suspected in the attempted break-in of an Arlington Heights home early Sunday is facing charges alleging he tried to force his way into a Palatine bank later the same day, authorities said.

Andrew Palacios, of the 2000 block of Thorntree Lane near Palatine, is charged with one count of burglary and one count possession of burglary tools, both felonies, according to Palatine police.

He was arrested Sunday morning when officers responded to an alarm at the Chase Bank, 825 W. Euclid Ave., police said. The first officer on the scene reported seeing a man dressed in dark clothes and a ski mask while carrying a hammer leave the back of the bank, according to police.

Officers began chasing the man on foot and caught him within minutes, according to police.

An investigation showed that Palacios had entered the bank by breaking a window, police said. He was not able to take any currency while inside, police said, but did take small items before fleeing.

Palatine police Cmdr. Craig Lesselyoung said it was confirmed that Palacios is the suspect in the attempted break-in of a house on the 900 block of South Scarsdale Court in Arlington Heights at approximately 7:45 a.m. the same day.

Arlington Heights police have not yet released information on possible charges in that case against Palacios, who was being held Monday at the Cook County jail on $50,000 bail.