FBI Charges Man Suspected of Buffalo Grove Bank Robbery

FBI agents arrested Monday a man suspected of robbing a Buffalo Grove bank last month.

Martin Crossley, 37, faces a charge in connection with a Nov. 30 robbery of First Merit Bank in Des Plaines.

Crossley, of Lombard, has not been charged in connection with the Nov. 19 robbery of Buffalo Grove’s PNC Bank, but the criminal complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago alleges that he robbed that bank as well as a Fifth Third Bank in Oak Brook on Nov. 29. (The complaint is attached at right.)

“FBI agents and family members of Crossley identified Crossley as the robber of the First Merit Bank, the PNC Bank and the Fifth Third Bank, based on their respective review of images of bank surveillance video from the three robberies and their knowledge of Crossley,” the complaint states. “In addition, a former coworker of Crossley identified Crossley as the robber of the Fifth Third Bank, based on the coworker’s review of an image of bank surveillance video and the coworker’s knowledge of Crossley.” 

Crossley was taken into custody Monday at a relative’s home in Lombard, officials said.

According to the complaint, Crossley entered the First Merit Bank and waited in line as a teller assisted another customer with a number of transactions. The complaint states that the teller interrupted those transactions to assist Crossley, who then stepped away and removed a plastic liner from a trash can in the bank’s lobby. Crossley then allegedly returned to the teller window, placed the trash can liner on the counter and presented a demand note to the teller.

According to the complaint, the teller placed cash in the trash can liner and then placed additional cash in the liner when Crossley made a verbal demand for more money. The complaint further states that as Crossley left the bank, he was confronted by the same bank customer whose transactions were interrupted so that the teller could address Crossley, and although the two got into a physical altercation, Crossley was able to flee.

Crossley appeared Tuesday before United States Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole, at which time he was formally charged and ordered held pending his next court appearance. He is scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 14.

If convicted, Crossley faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years in jail.

In announcing the arrest and charge, Thomas R. Trautmann, acting special agent-in-charge of the Chicago office of the FBI, acknowledged the significant assistance provided by officers of the Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines and Oak Brook police departments.