By Timothy Inklebarger

Staff Reporter

The Chicago FBI is searching for a man who disguised himself as a woman and allegedly robbed Community Bank, 1001 Lake St., on Monday at 11:25 a.m.

The man was described as a black male standing between 5 feet, 11 inches and 6 feet, 1 inch tall, weighing 200 pounds and wearing a wig and sunglasses.

FBI spokeswoman Joan Hyde could not immediately be reached for comment about the robbery.

Marty Noll, chairman of the board for Community Bank, said in a telephone interview that the robbery was a non-takeover event, meaning employees and customers were not taken hostage, and the entire episode took about five minutes.

Noll said the robber dressed as a woman and revealed from his purse that he was carrying a pistol.

"He had an over-the-shoulder purse. He opened it up and displayed the heel of the weapon to the teller," Noll said. "He was in and out in short order. Nobody was hurt and everybody did what they're supposed to do under those conditions."

Noll, who was present at the time of the robbery, said, "As soon as the door closed [a teller] called out, and I ran to the other end of the floor."

He said the robber escaped southbound on Forest Avenue and "was gone."

"The teller was upset and the person next to her was upset," Noll said. "It's one of those things you wish didn't happen but it does and you feel violated.

This is the second time Community Bank has been robbed in less than a year. On Dec. 31, 2014, the bank was robbed by a man standing about 5-6 to 5-9 in height.

The two robberies are the only time the bank has been robbed in its 17-year history, Noll said.

"We're zero for 17 years, and now we're two for seven months," Noll said.

Contact:

Email: tim@oakpark.com