U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
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U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation |
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| In Reply, Please Refer to Release No. |
219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604 |
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September 16, 2003 Suspects Sought in Rockford Bank Robbery Thomas J. Kneir, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is asking for the public's help in identifying the individuals depicted in the attached bank surveillance photographs, who are responsible for the September 10th armed robbery of the Rock River Bank, located at 2470 Eastrock Drive in Rockford. According to witnesses, the two robbers entered the bank at approximately 11:00 AM armed with semi-automatic handguns. They announced a robbery and threatened customers and employees with physical harm if they resisted. While one robber stood guard in the lobby area, the second robber vaulted the teller counter and emptied the contents of several cash drawers into a duffle bag that he was carrying. The robbers then fled the bank with a substantial amount of cash. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported. Subsequent investigation revealed that the robbers drove to the bank in a red Ford Escort, that was left in the bank's parking lot. The vehicle was reported stolen, two days earlier, from Bradford, Illinois near Peoria. The robbers fled the scene in a blue commercial van that was reported stolen from a carpet company in Dunlap, Illinois, which is also in the Peoria area. The van was found abandoned in a cemetery about a mile from the bank. Witnesses saw the two robbers enter an older model Chevrolet Blazer, dark colored with tinted windows, that was driven by a third individual, who was not further identified. Robber #1 is described as a white/male, 5'8" tall, 165-170 pounds, medium build, who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt with an "Adidas" logo. Robber #2 is described as a black/male, 5'6" tall, 250-300 pounds, heavy build, who was wearing a dark blue or black hooded sweatshirt. Anyone recognizing these individuals or having any information about this robbery is asked to call the Rockford FBI Office at (815) 987-9833. EDITOR'S NOTE: Additional copies of the attached photographs are available by e-mail from the Chicago FBI Press Office at (312) 786-2645. |
