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U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation

In Reply, Please Refer to Release No.

219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604

August 30, 2001 Three Arrested in Bank Robbery Spree Kathleen L. McChesney, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced today that the FBI is investigating six separate bank robberies that have occurred in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs during the past two days.  These investigations have resulted in the arrest of three individuals, all charged with bank robbery. ROBERT J. NIELSEN, JR., age 34, of Rockford, Illinois was arrested late Tuesday afternoon by Rolling Meadows Police, following the robbery of the Harris Bank branch, located at 1951 Plum Grove Road in Rolling Meadows.  NIELSEN is alleged to have escaped with $1,700 in cash, after orally demanding money from a teller.  NIELSEN told the teller that he was armed, though no weapon was displayed.  NIELSEN was apprehended by a Rolling Meadows Police Officer, who responded to a radio dispatch about the robbery.  NIELSEN was later turned over to the FBI and has been charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago with bank robbery. KENNITH J. PRICE, age 29, of Elgin, Illinois was arrested late yesterday afternoon by the Elgin Police Department, following the theft of $8,200 from the Elgin State Bank, 590 North McLean in Elgin.  According to witnesses, PRICE entered the bank at approximately 2:30 PM, approached a teller and demanded money.  PRICE was armed with a handgun, which he brandished at the teller before fleeing the bank.  PRICE was apprehended a short time later by an Elgin Police Officer, who was responding to the robbery.  No injuries were reported in the robbery and arrest.  PRICE was turned over to the FBI and was charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago with bank robbery. Also arrested yesterday was TIMOTHY BEAVER, age 31, of Chicago, Illinois.  BEAVER was apprehended by officers of the Waukegan Police Department, following the robbery of the State Financial Bank, 1 Gennessee Road, in Waukegan, earlier in the day.  It is alleged that BEAVER approached a teller in the bank and demanded money from her drawer.  Although he claimed to be armed, no weapon was displayed and no injuries were reported.  After receiving an undetermined amount of cash, BEAVER fled the bank on foot.  He was arrested a short time later by a Patrol Officer responding to the robbery.  BEAVER was turned over to the FBI and has been charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago with bank robbery. Other thefts still under investigation are the First Midwest Bank branch, 214 Washington in Waukegan, which was robbed of an undetermined amount of cash yesterday afternoon by two men, described as black/males, 25-35 years of age, with medium builds.  Both robbers claimed to be armed, though no weapons were displayed. Also, the Charter One Bank branch, located at 1799 Old Church Road in Hanover Park, was robbed late yesterday afternoon by a lone robber, described as a black/male, 20-25 years of age, medium height and build, who was wearing a ski mask and was armed with a handgun, make and model not determined.  No shots were filed and no injuries were reported.  Amount of loss not determined. Earlier today, the TCF Bank branch, located at 9400 South Ashland in Chicago, was robbed of an undetermined amount of cash by a black/male, 30-35 years of age, 5'9" tall, medium build, who was armed with a handgun.  After receiving an undetermined amount of cash, the robber fled the bank in a waiting vehicle, not further described.  No injuries were reported. All three of these robberies are being investigated by the FBI and Local Authorities.  Anyone with information about any of these thefts is asked to call the FBI at (312) 431-1333.  The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.  Copies of the complaints filed in the arrests are available from the FBI Press Office at (312) 786-2645.

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