Two men sought in BMO Harris Bank robbery in Portage Park

This is an updated story that was originally published on Oct. 20

by CYRYL JAKUBOWSKI and JASON MEREL

Two men made off with more than $73,000 in cash in a robbery of the BMO Harris Bank, 5960 W. Irving Park Road, at about 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, according to the Chicago office of the FBI and the 16th (Jefferson Park) District police.

The agency said that two men entered the bank and one allegedly used a note to demand money implying that he had a weapon and took cash, the FBI said.

An employee reported that two men approached his desk and one of the men handed him a note that said, “Don’t say nothing we here for the money or will shoot,” according to police. The employee reported that the other man approached another employee at her desk and handed her a note that said, “Be calm give me all cash or everyone will die,” while holding his right side, causing her to believe he had a weapon though none was displayed, police said.

The second employee reported that she attempted to take cash from her drawer when the second man said, “No, I want all of it from the vault” and the employee told the man that the vault could not be opened by one person, according to police. The employee reported that she showed the note to a third employee, who went to the vault and handed over $73,300 in cash to the men, police said.

A witness reported that the men fled to a gray Dodge minivan parked at the intersection of West Irving Park Road and North Mason Avenue, then fled east on West Belle Plaine Avenue, according to police.

One of the men was described as Black, age 20 to 30, and wearing a maroon sweatshirt and a facemask and gloves. The second man was described as wearing a colorful face covering, ripped jeans, a baseball cap and a dark colored coat.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Chicago FBI at 312-421-6700.