Bank Robber Undone By Planted Tracking Device In Money Bag
(CBS) – A robbery suspect was taken into police custody Friday after fleeing a Loop bank Friday, thanks to a tracking device that was slipped into a bag of money he was given.
The suspect entered First American Bank, 33 W. Monroe and announced a robbery around noon, police said. The teller followed his instructions, taking thousands of dollars from the drawer and filling a bag, bank officials told CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker.
She also slipped in a hidden tracking device into the bag, bank representative Viken Eneshian said.
"It looks like it's a pack of $50 bills, but the device is secured inside that," he said.
The device activated when the suspect passed through the door, allowing authorities to track him as he rode the Red Line. The bank sent a surveillance image to police, who recognized the suspect in the 200 block of West 63rd as he exited a train station. The money was recovered, police said.
The teller declined an interview, but her bosses had high praise for her.
"She kept calm and she did a fantastic job," Eneshian said.
Bank officials say they've actually used the tracking device three other times. Twice, the robbers were successfully tracked and caught.
Once, the robber figured out the device was in the bag and tossed it before police could catch him.
Charges were pending, Chicago police said.
